Three members of it The Nelonsa famous gospel music group in the United States and the chairman of the board that oversees the Georgia Department of Corrections, was among the seven people who died in a plane crash in Wyoming, according to a statement from a team member who was not on the plane.
Nelons co-founder Kelly Nelon Clark, her husband Jason Clark and their daughter, Amber Nelon Kistler, died in the crash on Friday afternoon, July 26.
Survivor of The Nelons confirms the tragedy
Autumn Nelon Streetman, another daughter who is a member of the famous group and which survived the accident After not boarding the aircraft, he confirmed the accident in a statement. He is the fourth member of the Georgia-based quartet.
” Thanks for the prayers which have already extended to me, my husband Jamie and our soon-to-be baby, as well as Jason’s parents, Dan and Linda Clarke,” she said.
“We appreciate your continued prayers, love and support as we navigate the next few days.”
Also killed in the crash were Nelon Kistler’s husband, Nathan Kistler, family friend Melodi Hodges and Larry and Melissa Haynie, according to Nelon Streetman. There were no survivors.
The group was traveling to join a cruise in Alaska, according to a statement from Gaither Music Group, sponsor of the trip that features several gospel singers and groups.
Details of the accident
Gaither Music said Hodges was the band’s sidekick and that Larry Haynie was the pilot of the plane and Melissa Haynie was his wife. The aircraft identified as Pilatus PC-12/47E single-engine turboprop.
The crash happened around 1 p.m. (local time) in Campbell County, Wyoming, north of Gillette and about 250 miles north of Cheyenne, according to a statement from Campbell County spokeswoman Leslie Perkins.
Campbell County Fire Chief Jeff Bender said in a statement Saturday, July 28, that the fire caused by the accident had been contained to less than a square mile and that firefighters would remain on the scene throughout the day.
National Transportation Safety Board spokesman Keith Holloway said Saturday that preliminary information indicates that the plane crashed after “a problem with the autopilot during the flight” and that a team of investigators was heading to the scene.
” The plane is in a remote location and once they gain access, they will begin documenting the scene, examining the aircraft,” Holloway said.
“The aircraft will then be recovered and taken to a secure facility for further evaluation,” he added.
A preliminary report on the accident is expected in approximately 30 days, while a final report with the possible cause of the accident could take up to two years to complete, he said.
Who are the Nelons?
Nelon was inducted into the Gospel Music Association Hall of Fame in 2016 and they won 10 GMA Dove Awards.
His success in southern gospel includes; 20 of the 5 best songs of this genreaccording to the Variety magazine portal.
The members of the group have been nominated individually or collectively for several GRAMMY Awards.
The most recent GMA Dove award was Country/Bluegrass/Roots Recorded Song of the Year in 2021 for “If God Pulled Back The Curtain.”
Source: univision
Jason Root is a writer at Gossipify, known for his in-depth coverage of famous people in entertainment, sports, and politics. He has a passion for uncovering the stories behind the headlines and bringing readers an inside look at the lives of the famous. He has been writing for Gossipify for several years and has a degree in Journalism from UC Berkeley.
