In July, a tragic plane crash in northeast Wyoming resulted in the deaths of seven individuals, including three members of The Nelons, a well-known quartet from the Gospel Music Association Hall of Fame. The pilot of the aircraft declared an emergency and reported the loss of the autopilot shortly before the crash occurred. The flight had originated from a Nebraska airport with a planned stop in Billings, Montana, but tragically crashed about 12 miles northeast of Recluse, Wyoming.
According to a preliminary report by the National Transportation Safety Board, the pilot communicated the emergency and autopilot failure to the Salt Lake City Air Route Traffic Control Center during the final moments of the flight. Despite efforts to communicate with the pilot about a safe landing location, contact was lost, leading to an alert notice from the Federal Aviation Administration. The plane was later discovered crashed in a remote area.
Witnesses near the crash site described hearing loud noises before impact, with one individual witnessing the plane in a barrel roll maneuver before the engine sound intensified until the crash occurred. Further investigation into the incident, including identifying potential causes, will be detailed in a final report to be released at a later time.
Those tragically lost in the crash included The Nelons’ co-founder Kelly Nelon Clark, her husband Jason Clark, their daughter Amber Nelon Kistler, Kistler’s husband Nathan Kistler, family friend Melodi Hodges, and Larry and Melissa Haynie. The group had been preparing to participate in the Gaither Homecoming Cruise to Alaska. The Nelons were recognized for their contributions to Gospel music, being inducted into the Gospel Music Association Hall of Fame in 2016 and winning numerous GMA Dove Awards over the years.
