Three members of the family the gospel band The Nelons killed in plane crash

Kelly Nelon Clark, her husband, Jason Clark, and their daughter Amber Nelon Kistler were headed to the Gaither Homecoming Cruise in Alaska. Four other passengers were killed.

The family group The Nelons were killed in the crash of a plane that occurred in Wyoming late on Friday. The crash also caused the deaths of four other people which included the pilot.

Kelly Nelon Clark, her husband Jason Clark, and their daughter Amber Nelon Kistler were headed to the Gaither Homecoming Cruise in Alaska at the time of the crash, Gaither Management Group said in a statement on Saturday.

National Transportation Safety Board said that the accident occurred in Recluse, Wyoming, a town in the northeast region of the state.

Kelly as well as Jason’s second daughter Autumn Nelon Streetman, who was also a part of the organization, wasn’t traveling on that plane. She released a brief statement in which she thanked people for the “prayers that have been offered to my husband, me, Jamie and our soon to be born baby boy, and Jason’s grandparents, Dan as well as Linda Clark.”

“We thank you for your constant prayers and love in the coming weeks,” she said.

The most recent Instagram update was Friday, after they had documented an emergency pit stop within Nebraska.

“Gaither the Homecoming Alaskan cruise. We are on our way” Jason Clark said before panning the camera to guide the other members of the group.

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Other victims of the crash was Amber’s husband Nathan Kistler, Melodi Hodges as well as an assistant Pilot Larry Haynie and his wife, Melissa.

It was not immediately evident what caused the accident. Gaither Management Group has said that they are investigating the incident. National Transportation Safety Board is looking into the crash.

A spokesperson from the NTSB confirmed that preliminary reports indicate that a PC-12/47E from Pilatus, turboprop with a single engine “impacted the terrain after a reported autopilot issue in flight. “

The spokesperson stated that the investigation is in its early stages and that not much information is available at the moment. The agency was sending an investigator to the scene of the crash. When the team has access to the aircraft which is located in a remote area and will begin to examine the plane according to the spokesperson.

Haynie was an Georgia Department of Corrections Board chairman. The corrections department stated that Haynie along with his wife “devoted to each other to their children, grandchildren and their families” and “were equally committed towards — as well as fervent supporters of their GDC the GDC family.”

Governor. Brian Kemp said that he was “truly deeply saddened” over the passing of.

“As Chairman of the Georgia Department of Corrections Board and throughout a long career of distinguished service in the field of public security, Larry’s influence on the state will never be lost in the dust,” he said in an statement regarding the X. “We will continue to cherish his memory and that unwavering dedication to friends and fellow Georgians in our memories and hearts.”

Kemp stated: “Our entire family is inviting everyone to join with us in praying for the people who are lost in the tragedy, their loved ones and their communities, as well as for the people in the Gospel music scene who lost dear friends in this devastating accident. “

The Nelons have released over 35 studio albums, and have accumulated more than twenty Top 5 Southern Gospel radio singles that include “Thanks,” “Come Morning,” “We Shall Wear a Robe and Crown” and “O for a Thousand Tongues” as per their site.

The group was voted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame.

Throughout their career, the four-person group received a Grammy nomination for best Southern gospel album in 1991 and received 35 nominations for the GMA Dove Awards. They most recently won a Dove Award for country/bluegrass/roots recorded song of the year in 2021 for “If God Pulled Back the Curtain.”

“The GMA and our entire music community are grieving in the wake of tragic losses to Jason, Kelly and Amber and the other victims affected by the tragic crash of a plane,” President Jackie Patillo declared in the announcement. “Our deepest prayers and condolences are with Autumn and the entire Nelon family. They will always be in our hearts and honored at the GMA Hall of Fame.”