3 members of the gospel singing Nelon family among the 7 fatalities in plane crash in Wyoming

July 27 (UPI) – Among the seven people killed in a plane crash in Wyoming were three members of the gospel-singing Nelon family from Georgia, according to the management team.

On Friday, they were en route to the seven-day Gaither Homecoming Alaska cruise, according to a statement from Gaither Music Group, the cruise’s sponsor, which features numerous gospel singers and groups. The cruise departed Seattle on Friday.

“The Nelons, one of America’s most beloved gospel music families, were involved in a tragic, fatal plane crash Friday afternoon en route to Alaska for the Gaither Homecoming Cruise,” the Gaither Management Group said in a Facebook post Friday.

“The crash killed Jason and Kelly Nelon Clark, Amber and Nathan Kistler and their assistant Melodi Hodges, and pilot Larry Haynie and his wife Melissa. The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the accident,” the message said. “Autumn, Jason and Kelly’s youngest daughter, and her husband Jamie Streetman were not on board the plane and arrived safely in Seattle. They were notified of the accident. They were taken to the hotel where artists gathered with Bill and Gloria Gaither to pray, sing and embrace them in their grief. They promised to support them in any need.”

Autumn released her own separate statement.

“As many of you have heard by now, my father and mother, Jason and Kelly Nelon Clark, along with my sister Amber and brother-in-law Nathan, and our dear friends Melodi Hodges, Larry and Melissa Haynie, were involved in a tragic plane crash on Friday,” she wrote.

“Thank you for the prayers already extended to me, my husband Jamie and our soon-to-be-born son, as well as to Jason’s parents Dan and Linda Clark. We appreciate your continued prayers, love and support in the days ahead.”

The accident occurred on Friday at 1 p.m. near Gillette, Wyoming, according to the Campbell County government. Gillette is located about 8 miles south of the Montana border.

The aircraft was a Pilatus PC-12/47E from a Swiss manufacturer.

“The investigation is still in the very early stages and there is not a lot of information available yet,” Keith Holloway, NTSB media relations officer, told USA Today. “All I can say is that the NTSB team is expected to be on site today.”

An Instagram post shows the group standing next to the plane on the tarmac after landing in Nebraska.

The pilot was the chairman of the Georgia Department of Corrections Board, Georgia Governor Brian Kemp, who posted on X.

The family was inducted into the Gospel Music Association Hall of Fame in 2016.