Three members of the Nelons, one of the top gospel groups in the country, died in a plane crash on Friday afternoon in Campbell County, Wyoming. The group was flying to perform on the Gaither Homecoming Alaska Cruise, which was scheduled to depart out of Seattle. The band members who died in the plane crash were Kelly Nelon Clark, her husband, Jason Clark, and their daughter, Amber Nelon Kistler. Four other people also died in the crash, Amber Nelon Kistler’s husband, Nathan Kistler; an assistant to the band, Melodi Hodges; the plane’s pilot, Georgia Department of Corrections Board chairman Larry Haynie; and the pilot’s wife, Melissa Haynie.
A fourth group member, Autumn Nelon Streetman, is the daughter of Kelly and Jason and was not on board the plane. She shared a statement: “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. We appreciate your continued prayers, love and support as we navigate the coming days.” (Variety)