Seven members of the Nelons, a well-liked gospel family, perished in a horrific plane disaster. Among the dead were pilot Larry Haynie and his wife Melissa, Jason and Kelly Nelon Clark, their daughter Amber, son-in-law Nathan Kistler, and family helper Melanie Hodges. Autumn Nelon Streetman, the sole surviving member, expressed her sorrow and appreciation for the prayers and support in a poignant statement.
The plane crashed in Wyoming while the Nelons were on their way to Alaska for the Gaither Homecoming Cruise. The plane crashed into the earth in flames, according to witnesses. There were no survivors in spite of emergency response attempts.
“Grief and gratitude for the prayers and support,” said Autumn. The accident will be looked into by the National Transportation Safety Board.
This incident has deeply impacted the gospel music community, which remembers the Nelons for their enduring contributions to the genre.