WASHINGTON TIMES
A single-engine plane crash in Gillette, Wyoming, Friday killed all seven people aboard, including three members of gospel music group the Nelons.
The Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the 1 p.m. crash. Preliminary reports suggest the plane suffered an issue with its autopilot system, an NTSB spokesperson told the BBC.
The FAA didn’t say where the plane took off or its destination, but the Nelons were flying to join the Gaither Homecoming Cruise to Alaska, the group’s Gaither Music team said in a Facebook post.
The victims were Jason and Kelly Nelon Clark, their daughter Amber Nelon Kistler and her husband, Nathan Kistler, their assistant Melodi Hodges, pilot Larry Haynie and his wife, Melissa Haynie, Gaither Music said.
The Nelons were a quartet and part of the Gospel Music Association Hall of Fame.
The Clarks’ younger daughter, Autumn Nelon Streetman, the group’s remaining member, and her husband, Jamie Streetman, flew separately into Seattle.
“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,” Ms. Streetman said in a statement.
The group hailed from Atlanta. Mr. Haynie was chairman of the Georgia Department of Corrections board.
