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Gospel group the Nelons being flown by Georgia state official in fatal Wyoming crash
By Emily DeLetter and Ahjané Forbes, USA TODAY,
3 hours ago
A Georgia state official is among the people that died in a Wyoming plane crash that also killed multiple members of a popular gospel group on Friday, according to authorities.
The Nelons, an Atlanta gospel music family group, were on their way to the Gaither Homecoming Cruise in Alaska when the plane crashed near Gillette, Wyoming, according to a statement from Gaither Music Management Group.
The people killed in the crash were Jason and Kelly Nelon Clark, Amber and Nathan Kistler, and their assistant, Melodi Hodges. The pilot, Larry Haynie, and his wife, Melissa, were also killed.
Larry Haynie was the chairman of the Georgia Department of Corrections Board , Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp confirmed in a statement Saturday. Kemp said in the statement posted to social media that Haynie's "impact on our state will not be forgotten."
Larry Haynie, the chairman of the Georgia Department of Corrections Board, died in a plane crash over the weekend near Gillette, Wyoming. Georgia Department of Corrections
The NTSB's preliminary report states that a Pilatus PC-12/47E impacted terrain around 1:04 p.m. MDT on Friday. The full details of the crash are still being investigated.
Keith Holloway, NTSB Media Relations Specialist told USA TODAY on Saturday that the team was expected to be on scene that day.
"It is very early in the investigation and not much information (is) available at this time," Holloway said.
The investigation will evaluate the pilot, the aircraft, and the operating environment.
"The aircraft is in a remote location and once they gain access, they will begin documenting the scene, examining the aircraft," Holloway said. "The aircraft will then be recovered and taken to a secure facility for further evaluation."
Witnesses to the crash or those with relevant information that could help the investigation are encouraged to email the NTSB at witness@ntsb.gov .
Who are The Nelons?
(L-R) Jason Clark, Autumn Nelon Clark, Kelly Nelon Clark and Amber Nelon Clark of musical group The Nelons attend the 46th Annual GMA Dove Awards at Allen Arena, Lipscomb University on October 13, 2015 in Nashville, Tennessee. Terry Wyatt
The Nelons were a gospel music family quartet based out of Atlanta, comprised of Kelly Nelon Clark, her husband Jason Clark and her daughters Amber Nelon Kistler and Autumn Nelon Streetman.
Nelon Streetman, who was not on board the plane, is the only surviving member of the group. She and her husband, Jamie Streetman, had arrived in Seattle and were informed of the crash, the Gaither Music statement said.
She added in her own statement that she and her husband "appreciate your continued prayers, love and support as we navigate the coming days."
The group, formerly The Rex Nelon Singers, was first formed in 1977 by Rex Nelon as a spinoff of the group The Lefevres.
The Nelons were inducted into the Gospel Music Association Hall of Fame in 2016.
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