Tragedy Strikes Gospel Music Family as Plane Crash Claims Seven Lives
A devastating plane crash in Wyoming claimed the lives of seven people, including three members of the beloved gospel group The Nelons, cutting short the lives of a family whose music had inspired Christian audiences for decades.
The crash occurred on July 26, 2024, in a remote area of Campbell County, Wyoming, near the Montana border. The aircraft was a Pilatus PC-12/47E carrying seven people. According to reports, the plane was traveling toward Seattle, where The Nelons were scheduled to join the Gaither Homecoming Cruise to Alaska.
Among those killed were gospel singers Kelly Nelon Clark, her husband Jason Clark, and their daughter Amber Nelon Kistler. Amber’s husband, Nathan Kistler, also died, along with family assistant Melodi Hodges, pilot Larry Haynie and his wife, Melissa Haynie.
Initial reports indicated that the aircraft experienced an autopilot problem during the flight before crashing into remote terrain. Air traffic control records described an equipment malfunction and reported that the pilot declared an emergency after losing the autopilot. Communication with the aircraft was subsequently lost. Investigators with the National Transportation Safety Board examined the crash as part of the official investigation.
The loss was especially devastating for the Nelon family. Autumn Nelon Streetman, Kelly and Jason’s younger daughter and the surviving immediate family member, was not aboard the aircraft. She and her husband, Jamie Streetman, had traveled separately to Seattle and learned of the crash after arriving.
In the aftermath, Autumn spoke publicly about the overwhelming grief facing her family and thanked supporters for their prayers, love and encouragement. She acknowledged that she did not yet have the words to fully describe what had happened, while expressing her determination to continue forward in faith.
The tragedy brought an abrupt end to a chapter in the history of The Nelons, a family gospel group deeply connected to the Southern gospel tradition. Their planned appearance on the Gaither Homecoming Cruise was supposed to be another moment in a long musical ministry. Instead, the journey became a heartbreaking loss remembered by fans, fellow musicians and Christian communities across the country.
The National Transportation Safety Board maintains the official aviation accident record and investigation materials for the crash.
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