A tragic plane crash in northeast Wyoming claimed the lives of seven people, including three members of the renowned Gospel Music Association Hall of Fame quartet The Nelons. The incident occurred on July 26 when the plane, en route from Nebraska to Billings, Montana, crashed about 12 miles northeast of Recluse, Wyoming.
According to a preliminary report by the National Transportation Safety Board, the pilot declared an emergency and reported the loss of autopilot shortly before the crash. The pilot had communicated with the Salt Lake City Air Route Traffic Control Center, indicating the need to land due to the autopilot malfunction. However, contact was lost before any further instructions could be given.
Witnesses near the crash site reported hearing a loud noise and seeing the plane in a barrel roll maneuver before it went down. The Federal Aviation Administration issued an alert notice for the missing aircraft, which was later discovered in a remote area.
The victims of the crash included The Nelons co-founder Kelly Nelon Clark, her husband Jason Clark, their daughter Amber Nelon Kistler, Amber's husband Nathan Kistler, family friend Melodi Hodges, and Larry and Melissa Haynie. Larry Haynie, identified as the pilot, was planning to take The Nelons to join the Gaither Homecoming Cruise to Alaska.
The Nelons, inducted into the Gospel Music Association Hall of Fame in 2016 and winners of numerous GMA Dove Awards, were a beloved and respected group in the gospel music industry. A final report on the crash, investigating potential causes, is expected to be released in the future.
