Richard McSpadden
by Dave Weiman
Published in Midwest Flyer Magazine December 2023 Digital Issue
“Where our minds linger is a choice,
and I choose the present.” Richard McSpadden
Who would have ever thought that former USAF Thunderbird Commander Richard McSpadden, 63, who flew supersonic fighters, would be killed in a small general aviation aircraft. But such was the case October 1, 2023, when Richard was riding right seat in a Cessna Cardinal 177RG that experienced an emergency shortly after takeoff in Lake Placid, New York. The terrain limited their options, and they turned back toward the airport, but failed to make the runway. The left-seat occupant of the aircraft was former NFL player and longtime pilot, Russ Francis, 70, who also died in the accident.
Inspired by his father who is also a pilot, Richard “Dick” McSpadden, Sr., Richard began flying while in college and went on to log more than 5,000 hours in a variety of civilian and military aircraft. After a 20-year career with the Air Force, he spent more than a decade in the information technology industry at Hewlett Packard Enterprise. He became executive director of the AOPA Air Safety Institute in 2017, then senior vice president in 2020.
Under Richard’s leadership, the Air Safety Institute created the Focused Flight Review program that includes tailored lesson plans like mountain flying, IFR proficiency, positive aircraft control, and others that focus on specific training goals to make flight reviews more effective. The engaging program also includes profiles for helicopter and seaplane operations to strengthen performance in other types of aircraft. The institute also transitioned its online courses created on a platform that had become obsolete to modern formats with a goal of meeting pilots wherever and however they consume information. Richard also championed the effort to transition the legacy Joseph T. Nall Report from print to an interactive format with near real-time data, and introduced popular new series, including the There I Was podcast and the Beyond Proficient, Reality Check, and most notably, Early Analysis videos.
The video series is focused on improving the general aviation safety record and expanding the knowledge and skills of pilots. His approach centered on five principles of safety: Take knowledgeable people; train them well; keep them proficient; put them in reliable, modern equipment; and surround them in a culture that supports good decision making. Air Safety Institute material is now accessed 10 million times annually.
(L/R) Richard McSpadden and AOPA President Mark Baker at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2022. Midwest Flyer Magazine Photo by Dave Weiman
Many AOPA members grew to know Richard through his monthly column in AOPA Pilot magazine, where he modeled self-reflection and humility with stories from his personal and professional flying career. In one article, readers saw his methodical dedication as he recounts spending hours-long sessions at home wearing a heavy helmet while studying or reading, to acclimate to the discomforts of the cockpit and improve his performance in the competitive Air Force Undergraduate Pilot Training program. In other articles, he revels in the joys of GA flying, a pastime he shared with his family. His father and brother are pilots, and he taught his children to fly. Many of his most lyrical descriptions are from experiences in his Super Cub.
“Flying has brought so much to my life—in many ways has been my life,” he wrote in his January 2022 column. “The feeling of gratitude to the many people who’ve boosted me here comes back frequently. In ways it seems unfair that I was exposed to aviation and given opportunities few have. I feel a growing urge to give back, cast a wider net, and expose more people to this splendid experience that can change the trajectory of a life.” McSpadden closed every column with a call to action: “Go fly!”
Richard McSpadden with his Super Cub.
Across the nation, Richard McSpadden influenced pilots and aviation groups through speaking engagements and involvement in safety initiatives, including serving on the board of the Seaplane Pilots Association and as the industry chair for the General Aviation Joint Safety Committee. He was passionate about backcountry flying and met each summer with state aviation officials, pilot groups, and backcountry subject matter experts to explore backcountry safety and stewardship. The National Air Traffic Controllers Association recently recognized Richard with the “James L. Oberstar Sentinel of Safety Award.”
I first contacted Richard before and after I reviewed AOPA’s Rusty Pilot Course, which is excellent, by the way. We made contact again just two weeks prior to his accident when I solicited his assistance in getting one of our readers back in the cockpit through the program. That reader was impressed that a senior executive at AOPA, who was a former commander of the Thunderbirds, was willing to help him any way he could. That’s how committed Richard was to flight safety and nurturing pilots.
AOPA President & CEO Mark Baker commented: “AOPA has lost a great colleague in Richard McSpadden, and I have lost a great friend. Richard represented everything you ever wanted in a leader, teammate, and mentor. I spent many hours flying all over the country with Richard, and spent even more hours with him and Judy as great friends. My heart aches for Judy, Grant, Annabel, and Richard’s entire family.”
In Richard’s memory, AOPA hosted a celebration of life for staff and members at AOPA headquarters in Frederick, Md., October 14, and established the “Richard McSpadden Scholarship for Advanced Pilot Training.” Donations may be sent to the fund c/o AOPA, 421 Aviation Way, Frederick, Maryland 21701.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Special thanks to Sarah Deener, Senior Director of Publications at AOPA, for much of the information used to create this article. Photos, except where noted, are thanks to AOPA and its chief photographer, David Tulis.
