Richard McSpadden

Richard Gibson McSpadden (1960 – October 1, 2023)[1] was an American educator and pilot. He became the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) Air Safety Institute (ASI) senior vice-president in 2020, having previously been its executive director from 2017.

Richard McSpadden
McSpadden giving autographs in 1994
Born1960
Panama City, Florida, U.S.
Died (aged 63)
Lake Placid, New York, U.S.
Alma materUniversity of Georgia
Troy University
Air War College
Occupation(s)Pilot and educator

Early life

Richard Gibson McSpadden was born in Panama City, Florida, to Ann and Richard McSpadden, one of their four children.[1][2]

McSpadden began flying in his teenage years, inspired by his pilot father, and was based out of Air Harbor Airport in Greensboro, North Carolina. The pursuit turned into a career of over 5,000 flying hours. He taught his son to fly and instructed his daughter to fly solo in the family's Piper Super Cub.[3]

He graduated with a degree in economics from the University of Georgia and from Troy University with a master's degree in Public Administration. He also graduated from the U.S. Air Force Air War College.[4]

Career

McSpadden served in the United States Air Force for twenty years, achieving the role of commander and flight leader of its Thunderbirds demonstration team.[5]

He became a commercial pilot with certified flight instructor, multi-engine land, single-engine seaplane and multi-engine seaplane ratings[3] while also working in information technology.[4]

In 2017, he became executive director of the AOPA's ASI. He was promoted to senior vice-president three years later. He also served as the chairman of the General Aviation Joint Steering Committee. He produced aviation safety material for ASI's YouTube channel[6] and website.[4]

Personal life

McSpadden was married for 31 years to Judy, with whom he had two children.[1][7]

Death

On October 1, 2023, McSpadden was killed in an aircraft accident in Lake Placid, New York. He was 63.[8][9][10] He and former American football tight end Russ Francis were flying a Cessna 177 out of Lake Placid Airport when the aircraft "experienced an emergency after takeoff." They attempted to return to the airport but crashed into a ravine near it. Both McSpadden and Francis were killed.[11]

References
  1. "Richard McSpadden Obituary (1960–2023) – Frederick, Md, MD – The Frederick News-Post". Legacy.com. Retrieved October 7, 2023.
  2. "Nona Halfacre McSpadden Obituary". www.tributearchive.com. Retrieved October 2, 2023.
  3. dchurch18 (May 9, 2022). "CFS 2022 Speaker Profile: Richard McSpadden". NATCA. Retrieved October 2, 2023.
  4. "2023 CFS Keynote Speakers". NATCA. Retrieved October 2, 2023.
  5. "Richard McSpadden". www.aopa.org. March 21, 2017.
  6. "Air Safety Institute". YouTube. Retrieved October 2, 2023.
  7. Niles, Russ (October 2, 2023). "Air Safety Institute's Richard McSpadden Dies In Crash". AVweb. Retrieved October 2, 2023.
  8. Muntean, Pete (October 2, 2023). "Aviation safety expert and ex-NFL star both killed in New York plane crash". CNN. Retrieved October 2, 2023.
  9. "Two killed in Lake Placid airplane crash identified". Lake Placid News. Retrieved October 2, 2023.
  10. "Accident Cessna 177RG Cardinal RG N545PZ". aviation-safety.net. Retrieved October 2, 2023.
  11. "AOPA mourns death of Richard McSpadden". Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association. October 1, 2023. Retrieved October 2, 2023.
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