| Richard McSpadden | |
| Birth Date: | 1960 |
| Birth Place: | Panama City, Florida, U.S. |
| Death Place: | Lake Placid, New York, U.S. |
| Occupation: | Pilot and educator |
| Alma Mater: | University of Georgia Troy University Air War College |
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 Gibson McSpadden was born in Panama City, Florida, to Ann and Richard McSpadden, one of their four children.[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]
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 and certified flight instructor, with multi-engine land, single-engine seaplane and multi-engine seaplane ratings while also working in information technology.
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.
McSpadden was married for 31 years to Judy, with whom he had two children.[7]
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 player Russ Francis were flying a Cessna 177 out of Lake Placid Airport when the aircraft's engine failed. They attempted to return to the airport but crashed into a ravine near it. Both McSpadden and Francis were killed.[11] In November 2023, AOPA renamed its annual Air Safety Institute Accident Report from Joseph T. Nall Report to Richard G. McSpadden Report to honor his dedication in improving aviation safety.[12]