Family Tragedy: Cause of Plane Crash Revealed

A private plane crash in Wyoming during July 2025 resulted in the tragic deaths of three members of the gospel music group, The Nelons. Kelly Nelon Clark, her husband Jason Nelon Clark, and their daughter Amber Nelon Kistler were among the victims. The National Transportation and Safety Bureau's report identified a "combination of weather conditions and the pilot's distraction" as the cause.

The pilot's distraction occurred when the autopilot disconnected after the aircraft encountered an updraft from convective weather activity. This, coupled with the adverse weather, led the pilot, Larry Haynie, to lose control of the aircraft. The group was traveling to perform at the Gaither Homecoming Cruise to Alaska when the incident took place.

Gaither Music confirmed the fatalities included Amber's husband, Nathan Kistler, assistant Melodi Hodges, pilot Larry Haynie, and his wife Melissa. Kelly's younger daughter, Autumn Nelon Streetman, and her husband Jamie Streetman, were the only survivors on board. The crash also sparked a wildland fire near Gillette, Wyoming, which was suppressed by local fire departments.

Autumn Nelon Streetman has spoken about the profound grief and the challenge of carrying on her family's legacy. The Nelons, a group founded in 1977, continued their tradition of gospel music through multiple generations, with Kelly following in her father's footsteps.