Aviation leaders are mourning the loss of senior Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association executive Richard McSpadden, who died yesterday in an aircraft accident outside Lake Placid, New York. McSpadden, who had served as senior v-p of the AOPA Air Safety Institute and was revered by many for his safety advocacy, was 63.
AOPA released a statement saying it was deeply saddened to report that McSpadden and one other person had passed away on Sunday afternoon after the Cardinal 177 they were flying in crashed as it was returning to Lake Placid Airport.
“The Cardinal 177 in which Richard was in the right seat experienced an emergency after takeoff. The airplane attempted to return to the airport but failed to make the runway,” AOPA said. According to preliminary information from the Air Safety Network, the aircraft was destroyed as it impacted trees and terrain at the end of the runway.
The association called McSpadden “a very accomplished pilot, including serving as commander of the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds during his military career, a trusted colleague, friend, son, husband, and father.”
NBAA president and CEO Ed Bolen further praised McSpadden, saying his “pioneering work in flight safety, including his leadership in education and training, saved countless lives. We extend our condolences to his family, his friends, and all those touched by the important safety lessons he shared.”
McSpadden joined AOPA in February 2017 to lead the Air Safety Institute as executive director and was promoted to senior v-p in July 2020. He additionally served as the industry chair for the General Aviation Joint Steering Committee, tasked with taking a deep dive into aviation safety trends.
Originally from Panama City, Florida, McSpadden began flying as a teenager and had amassed well over 5,000 hours in civilian and military aircraft. Holding an undergraduate degree in economics from the University of Georgia and a Master of Public Administration from Troy University, he was a graduate of the U.S. Air Force War College and spent 20 years in the service.
During his time in the Air Force, he held the roles of commander and flight leader of the Thunderbirds flight demonstration team, leading more than 100 flight demonstrations.
General Aviation Manufacturers Association president and CEO Pete Bunce remembered their time together in the service. “Spad was a close friend. We flew F-15s together over the skies of Iraq, worked closely within the airshow community when he served as the leader of the USAF Thunderbirds, and we flew the Idaho backcountry together," Bunce said, calling him "a true giant...I have never known an aviator with finer pilot skills who then in turn selflessly helped others benefit from his vast expertise with such humility that pilots at any experience level felt comfortable learning in Spad’s presence.”
GAMA chair and Simcom president Eric Hinson added, “Spad was [a] pilot’s pilot. His quiet competency was evident to all of us who were fortunate to fly with him. We have lost one of our very best and a true champion of aviation safety.”
Before joining the Air Safety Institute, McSpadden held key roles in the information technology industry. While at AOPA, he led the development and creation of a range of aviation safety programs, analyses, and materials that were widely distributed throughout the general aviation industry.
“[The National Air Transportation Association] was deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Richard McSpadden. The general aviation community will forever be a better place due to Richard’s guidance, expertise, and warmth, as well as his willingness to share it with the world,” added NATA president and CEO Curt Castagna. “We will dearly miss his leadership and passion for our great industry, and our hearts go out to his family, colleagues, and friends.”
A commercial pilot with CFII, MEI with an SES, MES, and a 525S (Citation Jet Single Pilot) type rating, McSpadden taught his son to fly and instructed his daughter to solo in their Piper Super Cub.
“The best tribute we can give to Richard is to continue to raise the safety bar in general aviation and share Spad’s passion to make us all better aviators,” Bunce added.
McSpadden is survived by his wife Judy, his son Grant, and his daughter Annabel.