Tragic news emerged from northeast Wyoming in July, when a plane carrying seven people crashed, claiming the lives of three members of the renowned Gospel Music Association Hall of Fame quartet The Nelons. The pilot declared an emergency and reported loss of autopilot shortly before the incident, according to a preliminary report by the National Transportation Safety Board.
The ill-fated flight had departed from Nebraska with a planned stop in Billings, Montana, before going down about 12 miles northeast of Recluse, Wyoming. As the pilot struggled to regain control of the aircraft, radar and radio contact were lost, leading to a devastating crash in a remote area.
Witnesses near the crash site reported hearing a distressing “loud whining noise” and witnessing the plane perform a dangerous “barrel roll” maneuver before impact. The Nelons co-founder Kelly Nelon Clark, her husband Jason Clark, their daughter Amber Nelon Kistler, and others tragically lost their lives in the crash.
The Nelons, honored in 2016 by the Gospel Music Association Hall of Fame and recipients of numerous GMA Dove Awards, were preparing to embark on the Gaither Homecoming Cruise to Alaska at the time of the accident. The loss of such talented and beloved individuals has left a void in the music industry and the hearts of their fans.
While investigations into the crash continue and a final report is awaited, the music world mourns the loss of these iconic figures. The impact of their music and legacy will never be forgotten.
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