A tragic plane crash in July claimed the lives of seven people including three members of the Atlanta-based gospel group, The Nelons. The group was en route to a Gaither Homecoming Cruise in Alaska when the crash occurred near Recluse, Wyoming.
According to a report by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), the pilot declared an emergency after losing autopilot control shortly before the crash. Witnesses said they saw the plane perform a “barrel roll” as the engine made loud noises before it went down.
All seven people on board including the pilot, the gospel group members and three others, died in the crash.
Pilot’s Final Moments Before the Crash
As the plane lost control, the air traffic controller asked the pilot how he planned to land. At first, there was no response but eventually, the pilot informed the controller that he was attempting to regain control of the aircraft.
The controller then offered further help and reminded the pilot of the minimum instrument flight rules. However, the pilot did not respond to this advice.
Events After Losing Contact with the Plane
After contact with the plane was lost, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued an Alert Notice. Local law enforcement later discovered the crash site about 12 miles northeast of Recluse, Wyoming.
A witness reported hearing a “loud whining noise” that faded and then grew louder again, followed by smoke rising from the crash area. Another witness saw the plane perform a “barrel roll” as the engine roared, then heard it crash into the ground, followed by more smoke.
According to the report, debris from the plane was scattered across a 300-foot radius. The left wing was found broken into two pieces nearly a mile away from the main wreckage. The wreckage was later taken to a secure location for further investigation.
In a separate incident, a plane crashed into a mobile home park in west Texas, killing two people and setting several homes on fire.
Victims of the Plane Crash
The crash claimed the lives of Jason and Kelly Nelon Clark, their daughter Amber and her husband Nathan Kistler along with their assistant, Melodi Hodges. The pilot, Larry Haynie and his wife, Melissa, were also among the victims.
In a heartfelt statement, Autumn Nelon Streetman, the daughter of Jason and Kelly Nelon Clark, expressed her grief, saying, “As many of you know, my parents, Jason and Kelly, along with my sister Amber, her husband Nathan, and our friends Melodi, Larry and Melissa, were involved in a tragic plane crash. Thank you for all the prayers and support for me, my husband Jamie and our soon-to-be-born son as well as for Jason’s parents, Dan and Linda Clark.”
Larry Haynie, who also served as the chairman of the Georgia Department of Corrections Board, was remembered by Georgia Governor Brian Kemp. Kemp acknowledged Haynie’s lasting contributions to the state, stating that his impact “will not be forgotten.”
Who Were The Nelons?
The Nelons were a well-known gospel music family from Atlanta. The group included Kelly Nelon Clark, her husband Jason Clark and their daughters, Amber Nelon Kistler and Autumn Nelon Streetman. Autumn, the only surviving member of the group, was not on the plane. She and her husband, Jamie Streetman, had arrived in Seattle when they received the tragic news of the crash, according to a statement from Gaither Music.
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