Current:Home > News3 Members of The Nelons Family Gospel Group Dead in Plane Crash -EverVision Finance
3 Members of The Nelons Family Gospel Group Dead in Plane Crash
Indexbit Exchange View
Date:2025-04-08 23:17:51
The gospel music community is in mourning.
Three members of The Nelons, a Grammy-nominated family gospel group, died in a private plane crash in Wyoming that claimed the lives of all seven people aboard July 26.
Singers Kelly Nelon Clark, 64, husband Jason Clark, and their daughter Amber Nelon Kistler, 35, were killed along with the latter's husband Nathan Kistler, 34, the Georgia-based band's assistant, Melodi Hodges, plus the pilot, Larry Haynie, and his wife, Melissa Haynie, Gaither Management Group said in a statement.
"One of the best loved Gospel music families in America," the company said. "The Nelons were involved in a tragic, fatal plane crash on Friday afternoon on their way to join the Gaither Homecoming Cruise to Alaska."
Kelly and Jason's youngest daughter, fellow Nelons singer Autumn Nelon Streetman, 27, who had traveled separately to the cruise along with her husband Jamie Streetman. Following the crash, Autumn, who is in the second trimester of her pregnancy with the couple's first child, thanked fans for their support.
"Thank you for the prayers that have been extended already to me, my husband, Jamie, and our soon-to-be-born baby boy, as well as Jason’s parents, Dan and Linda Clark," she wrote on Instagram. "We appreciate your continued prayers, love and support as we navigate the coming days."
The single-engine Pilatus PC-12 aircraft had flown from Georgia to Nebraska City, Neb. the morning of July 26 and then took off again that afternoon, headed for another stop in Billings, Mont., according to flight records obtained by E! News.
WSB-TV in Atlanta reported that the National Transportation Safety Board and Federal Aviation Administration are both investigating the cause of the crash, which occurred in a remote area north of Gillette, Wyo.
An NTSB spokesperson told British newspaper The Guardian that preliminary information indicated the accident took place following an “autopilot issue during flight."
Hours before the accident, the Nelons shared a travel vlog from a Nebraska airport on Instagram.
Autumn, the only surviving member of the Nelons, and her husband were notified of the plane crash upon their arrival at their destination, Gaither Management Group said in their statement.
"They were brought to the hotel where artists were gathered with Bill and Gloria Gaither to pray, sing and embrace them in their grief," the company said in their statement, "pledging to support them in whatever needs arise."
The management group added that "Autumn and Jamie will return home for now to Kelly's brother, Todd Nelon and his wife, Rhonda, to begin the hard tasks that lie ahead. Please keep them, the Kistler family, the Haynie family and the family of Melodi Hodges in your prayers."
Rex Nelon, Kelly's late father, founded the band in the late '70s. The group, whose lineup has changed over the decades, was nominated for a Grammy for Best Southern Gospel Album for Let The Redeemed Say So in 1991. The Nelons were also known for songs such as "I Shall Not Be Moved" and "We Shall Wear a Robe and Crown."
Autumn, the only surviving member of the Nelons, and her husband were notified of the plane crash upon their arrival at their destination, Gaither Management Group said in their statement.
"They were brought to the hotel where artists were gathered with Bill and Gloria Gaither to pray, sing and embrace them in their grief," the company said in their statement, "pledging to support them in whatever needs arise."
The management group added that "Autumn and Jamie will return home for now to Kelly's brother, Todd Nelon and his wife, Rhonda, to begin the hard tasks that lie ahead. Please keep them, the Kistler family, the Haynie family and the family of Melodi Hodges in your prayers."
For the latest breaking news updates, click here to download the E! News AppveryGood! (19664)
Related
- Trump wants to turn the clock on daylight saving time
- New Details Revealed About Wild 'N Out Star Jacky Oh's Final Moments
- Parkland shooting sheriff's deputy Scot Peterson found not guilty on all counts
- Methodology for Mapping the Cities With the Unhealthiest Air
- Buckingham Palace staff under investigation for 'bar brawl'
- Supreme Court sides with Christian postal worker who declined to work on Sundays
- In a First, California Requires Solar Panels for New Homes. Will Other States Follow?
- Photos: Native American Pipeline Protest Brings National Attention to N.D. Standoff
- See you latte: Starbucks plans to cut 30% of its menu
- In Exxon Climate Fraud Case, Judge Rejects Defense Tactic that Attacked the Prosecutor
Ranking
- Are Instagram, Facebook and WhatsApp down? Meta says most issues resolved after outages
- A Siege of 80 Large, Uncontained Wildfires Sweeps the Hot, Dry West
- Energy Production Pushing Water Supply to Choke Point
- RHOC's Shannon Beador Reveals the Real Reason for Her and Tamra Judge's Falling Out
- 'Survivor' 47 finale, part one recap: 2 players were sent home. Who's left in the game?
- In the San Joaquin Valley, Nothing is More Valuable than Water (Part 1)
- Prince Harry Feared Being Ousted By Royals Over Damaging Rumor James Hewitt Is His Dad
- The Society of Professional Journalists Recognizes “American Climate” for Distinguished Reporting
Recommendation
Behind on your annual reading goal? Books under 200 pages to read before 2024 ends
You'll Love Ariana Grande Harder for Trolling Her Own Makeup Look
On the Frontlines of a Warming World, 925 Million Undernourished People
Princess Eugenie Gives Birth, Welcomes Baby No. 2 With Husband Jack Brooksbank
Paige Bueckers vs. Hannah Hidalgo highlights women's basketball games to watch
Why Jinger Duggar Vuolo Didn’t Participate in Shiny Happy People: Duggar Family Secrets
Elle Fanning Recalls Losing Role in Father-Daughter Film at 16 for Being Unf--kable
At Flint Debate, Clinton and Sanders Avoid Talk of Environmental Racism