A plane crash in Wyoming has claimed the lives of three members of the renowned gospel group The Nelons, along with four others. Jason and Kelly Nelon Clark, along with their daughter Amber Nelon Kistler, died on Friday when their plane went down en route to a performance.
Autumn Nelon Streetman, another member of the Grammy Award-nominated group, confirmed the heartbreaking news on Instagram. Although she was not on the plane, she expressed her deep sorrow and gratitude for the outpouring of support from fans.
The crash also took the lives of Amber’s husband, Nathan Kistler, the family’s assistant, Melodi Hodges, and the pilot Larry Haynie, and his wife Melissa Haynie, as confirmed by the group’s management. The passengers were traveling to Seattle to join a cruise ship for a scheduled performance by The Nelons.
The incident occurred at approximately 1 p.m. local time, north of Gillette, Wyoming, and reportedly sparked a wildfire. Preliminary investigations by the National Transportation Safety Board suggest an issue with the autopilot system might have caused the crash.
Autumn, the youngest member of The Nelons, was in Seattle waiting for her family when she received the devastating news. She shared her grief on social media, thanking everyone for their prayers and support for her, her husband Jamie, their unborn son, and Jason’s parents, Dan and Linda Clark.
The Nelons were founded in the 1970s by Rex Nelon, Kelly Nelon Clark’s father. The group has been a staple in gospel music, earning three Grammy Award nominations and induction into the Gospel Music Association Hall of Fame in 2016. Some of their well-known songs include “I Shall Not Be Moved,” “Come Morning,” and “We Shall Wear a Robe and Crown.”
In addition to her musical career, Kelly Nelon Clark appeared in the ABC fantasy drama “Resurrection.”
(Photo: Screen capture from Nelon website)
