Super Bowl champ Russ Francis, fellow aviation enthusiast killed in plane crash, police say

Fox News Flash top sports headlines are here. Check out what's clicking on Foxnews.com.

Russ Francis, a three-time Pro Bowler and Super Bowl champion with the San Francisco 49ers, was one of two people killed in a plane crash over the weekend in New York, authorities said.

Francis, 70, was with another aviation enthusiast, Richard McSpadden, 63, going for a ride out of Lake Placid Airport around 4 p.m. ET on Sunday. The two were in a single-engine Cessna 177 when the plane encountered trouble and crashed into an embankment at the corner of the airport, New York State Police said.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

Russ Francis of the San Francisco 49ers warms up on the sideline during a game against the New Orleans Saints at Candlestick Park on November 15, 1987, in San Francisco. (George Rose/Getty Images)

The former New England Patriots tight end was the organization’s first-round pick in 1975 and played for the team until 1980. He was a Pro Bowler for three straight seasons between 1977-1979.

"Russ was a fan favorite throughout his playing career," Patriots team owner Robert Kraft said in a statement. "He was a dynamic player on the field who had an even bigger personality off it. He knew no boundaries, pushed the limits and lived his life to the fullest."

He returned to the football field in 1982 after retiring in 1981. He played for the San Francisco 49ers before rejoining the Patriots in the middle of the 1987 season. He finished his career with the Patriots in 1988.

STEELERS' CHARTER FLIGHT SUFFERS 'MECHANICAL ISSUE' BEFORE RETURNING TO PITTSBURGH, GETS DELAYED

New England Patriots' Russ Francis is shown during a press conference on Feb. 11, 1980, at Boston Garden. (AP Photo/File)

Francis won