3 members of Nelons, a Hall of Fame gospel group, among 7 fatalities in Wyoming plane crash

CNN
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Three members of the Nelons, a Georgia-based gospel family group, were among seven people killed in a plane crash in Wyoming on Friday, according to a statement from the family’s management company.

Kelly Nelon Clark, her husband Jason Clark and their daughter Amber Kistler were killed in the crash Friday afternoon, according to a statement attached to the Gaither Music Group’s announcement from their daughter Autumn Nelon Streetman, who was not on board the plane.

“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,” said Nelon Streetman, who traveled to Seattle with her husband. “We appreciate your continued prayers, love and support in the days ahead.”

Also killed in the crash were Kistler’s husband Nathan Kistler and her assistant Melodi Hodges, as well as the plane’s pilot Larry Haynie and his wife Melissa.

There were no survivors, the statement said.

Haynie, the chairman of the Georgia Board of Corrections, was remembered by Georgia Governor Brian Kemp in a social media post on Saturday.

“Larry’s valuable commitment to public safety will remain with us in our state,” Kemp wrote. “Our entire family asks everyone to join us in praying for the deceased, their loved ones and churches, and for all in the gospel music community who have lost dear friends in this heartbreaking accident.”

The group, described by their management company as “one of the most beloved gospel music families,” was en route to take part in the Gaither Homecoming Cruise to Alaska, according to the Gaither Music Group, which also sponsors the cruise featuring numerous gospel singers and groups. The ship was scheduled to leave Seattle on Saturday afternoon. The statement from Gaither said Nelon Streetman and her husband were notified of the deaths in Seattle and were on their way home.

The Nelons were inducted into the Gospel Music Association (GMA) Hall of Fame in 2016 and have won ten Gospel Music Association Dove Awards, including multiple awards for Song of the Year and Album of the Year, according to the group’s official website.

According to the Dove Awards website, the group most recently won the award for Country/Bluegrass/Roots Song of the Year, “If God Pulled Back The Curtain,” in 2021.

“The GMA and our entire music community mourn the tragic loss of Jason, Kelly and Amber, as well as the others involved in the tragic plane crash,” GMA President Jackie Patillo said on the organization’s website. “Our deepest condolences and prayers are with Autumn and the rest of the Nelon family. They will be forever cherished and remembered in the GMA Hall of Fame.”

The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the accident involving a Pilatus PC-12/47E single-engine turboprop aircraft.

“The aircraft is in a remote location and once they have access, they will begin documenting the scene and examining the aircraft,” NTSB spokesman Keith Holloway said in a statement Saturday. “The aircraft will then be recovered and transported to a secure facility for further investigation.”

A preliminary report is expected in about 30 days, while it could take up to two years to complete a final report on the probable cause of the crash, Holloway added.