Image source, Getty Images
- author, Lucy Clark Billings
- role, BBC News
A couple and their daughter, who performed together in American gospel group The Nelons, have been killed in a plane crash along with four other people.
Jason and Kelly Nelon Clark died along with Amber Nelon Kistler on Friday when their plane crashed over Wyoming on their way to a performance.
Autumn Nelon Streetman, who performed with the Grammy-nominated group but was not a member, confirmed the deaths of her parents and sister on Instagram.
She thanked fans for the “prayers, love and support” they sent her in the hours after the fatal accident.
Also killed were Amber’s husband, Nathan Kistler, family assistant Melody Hodges, and pilot Larry Haney and his wife, Melissa Haney, according to the group’s administrator.
Gaither Management said the passengers were en route to Seattle to board a cruise ship where The Nelons were scheduled to perform.
Officials at the scene said the crash happened around 1pm local time north of the town of Gillette, and local media reported that the crash sparked a wildfire.
A spokesman for the National Transportation Safety Board said preliminary reports indicated the plane appears to have crashed due to an “autopilot issue.”
According to the band’s management, Autumn, the youngest member of the family band, was in Seattle awaiting the arrival of her parents and sister when she received the news.
“I want to thank everyone for the prayers that have already been sent out for me, my husband Jamie, our soon-to-be son, and Jason’s parents Dan and Linda Clark,” Autumn wrote in an Instagram post.
Kelly Nelon Clark’s father, Rex Nelon, founded the group in the 1970s.
They have been nominated for a Grammy Award three times and were inducted into the Gospel Music Association Hall of Fame in 2016.
Some of the group’s biggest hits include “I Shall Not Be Moved,” “Come Morning” and “We Shall Wear a Robe and Crown.”
Kelly is also an actress and appeared in the ABC fantasy drama “Resurrection.”
