Nelons plane crash: Music family members among victims

RECLUSE: A plane crash resulted in the deaths of three members of the renowned gospel group “The Nelons”, along with four others, including the aircraft’s pilot.

The incident occurred as the family was en route to the Gaither Homecoming Cruise to Alaska, a prominent event in the gospel music community.

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The crash also claimed the lives of Amber Nelon Kistler’s husband, Nathan Kistler; family friend and assistant, Melodi Hodges; the pilot, Larry Haynie, and his wife, Melissa Haynie.

The crash took place near Recluse, Wyoming, in Campbell County, at around 1 pm local time. The aircraft involved was a Pilatus PC-12/47E, which reportedly experienced an autopilot issue before impacting the terrain.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) began an investigation into the incident. A spokesperson for the NTSB confirmed that preliminary reports indicate the plane “impacted terrain following a reported autopilot issue during flight.”

Due to the remote location of the crash site, investigators have faced challenges in reaching and examining the wreckage.

The Nelons are a prominent family gospel group. The family has made significant contributions to the Southern Gospel genre. They were inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame in 2016 and have garnered numerous accolades, including Grammy nominations and Dove Awards.

Their hits include “Thanks,” “Come Morning,” and “We Shall Wear a Robe and Crown.” Their most recent Dove Award was for Country/Bluegrass/Roots Recorded Song of the Year in 2021 for “If God Pulled Back the Curtain.”

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The Gaither Homecoming Cruise, scheduled to begin on Saturday, was set to feature performances from Bill and Gloria Gaither, the Gaither Vocal Band, and other notable Christian music artists.