Jason and Kelly Nelon Clark die in fatal Wyoming plane crash
Fatal Campbell County, Wyoming plane crash death of Jason and Kelly Nelon Clark – Obituary
Tragedy struck on Friday afternoon when a plane carrying members of the gospel group The Nelons crashed in northeast Wyoming. The aircraft was traveling from Nebraska City, Nebraska, to Billings, Montana, when it went down about eight miles south of the Montana border in Campbell County around 1 p.m.
According to Campbell County Undersheriff Quentin Reynolds, there were no survivors of the crash. The plane had issued a distress signal shortly before it went down.
The Gaither Management Group confirmed the identities of the deceased in a statement. The victims included Jason and Kelly Nelon Clark, Amber and Nathan Kistler, their assistant Melodi Hodges, as well as the pilot Larry Haynie and his wife Melissa.
The statement noted that The Nelons, one of the most beloved families in gospel music, were en route to join the Gaither Homecoming Cruise to Alaska at the time of the crash.
Autumn Nelon Streetman, the youngest daughter of Jason and Kelly Nelon Clark, was not aboard the ill-fated flight. She expressed gratitude for the support received in a separate statement, acknowledging the outpouring of prayers and well-wishes for her family, including her parents and her own family as they face this difficult time.
The aircraft, a Pilatus PC-12/47E single-engine plane, had previously landed in Nebraska City, Nebraska, to refuel. A manager at the airfield confirmed that while the plane did not start its journey there, it was a regular customer. The manager recalled the passengers as “super nice people” and expressed sorrow over the incident.
According to CountryMusicFamily, Kelly Nelon Clark had shared on Facebook about their stop in Nebraska City, where they planned to have lunch.
Emergency response teams arrived at the crash site around 2:30 p.m. on Friday. Initial efforts were hindered by sparse communication and the challenging terrain. Fire crews and other responders worked to control the fire and secure the area. Despite their efforts, the fire was still active late into the afternoon, with responders utilizing aircraft and heavy equipment to assist in the suppression efforts.
A drone was used to capture aerial images of the scene, as authorities worked to piece together the details of the crash. The Campbell County Fire Department in Gillette declined to comment further on the situation.
Fatal Campbell County, Wyoming plane crash death of Jason and Kelly Nelon Clark – Obituary Tragedy struck on Friday afternoon when a plane carrying members of the gospel group The Nelons crashed in northeast Wyoming. The aircraft was traveling from Nebraska City, Nebraska, to Billings, Montana, when it went down about eight miles south of…
Fatal Campbell County, Wyoming plane crash death of Jason and Kelly Nelon Clark – Obituary Tragedy struck on Friday afternoon when a plane carrying members of the gospel group The Nelons crashed in northeast Wyoming. The aircraft was traveling from Nebraska City, Nebraska, to Billings, Montana, when it went down about eight miles south of…