Former NFL tight end Russ Francis and another man were killed in a small plane crash at an Adirondack Mountains airport. The crash occurred after the plane's engine lost power and the pilots attempted to turn back towards the runway. Francis, a veteran pilot and president of Lake Placid Airways, was a first-round draft pick for the Patriots in 1975 and played for the team until 1980. He was named to the Pro Bowl three straight seasons and later joined the San Francisco 49ers, winning the Super Bowl in 1984. Francis returned to New England in 1987 and retired the following year.