Three members of The Nelons, a Gospel Music Association Hall of Fame quartet, were among seven people killed in a plane crash Friday afternoon in Wyoming.
The news was confirmed by a statement from another daughter, Autumn Nelon Streetman, a group member not on the aircraft.
The Nelons co-founder, Kelly Nelon Clark, her husband Jason Clark, and their daughter, Amber Nelon Kistler, died in the crash.
The Georgia-based Nelons were inducted into the Gospel Music Association Hall of Fame in 2016 and have won 10 GMA Dove Awards, including multiple song of the year and album of the year awards.
“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,” Nelon Streetman said. “We appreciate your continued prayers, love and support as we navigate the coming days.”
Also killed in the crash were Nelon Kistler’s husband, Nathan Kistler, family friend Melodi Hodges, and Larry and Melissa Haynie, according to Nelon Streetman.
The group was headed to the Gaither Homecoming Cruise to Alaska, according to a statement from Gaither Music Group, the sponsor of the cruise.
The aircraft was identified as a single engine turboprop Pilatus PC-12/47E.
The crash occurred about 1 p.m. in Campbell County, Wyoming, north of Gillette and about 250 miles (402 kilometers) north of Cheyenne, according to a statement from Campbell County spokesperson Leslie Perkins.
The National Transportation Safety Board spokesperson Keith Holloway said Saturday that preliminary information indicated the plane crashed following an “auto pilot issue during flight.”
