Members of family gospel quartet among 7 dead in Campbell County plane crash
GILLETTE — Three family members of popular gospel quartet The Nelons are among seven who died when a private plane crashed Friday afternoon in Campbell County north of Gillette.
Kelly Nelon Clark, her husband Jason Clark and daughter Amber Nelon Kristler died in the crash, according to a Facebook post made by Gaither Music Group and the Atlanta quartet’s fourth member, Autumn Nelon Streetman.
Nelon Kistler’s husband Nathan Kistler, along with Melodi Hodges and pilot Larry Haynie and his wife Melodi also died in the crash, according to the statement.
The National Transportation Safety Board took over the investigation from local agencies, which first responded to the crash after it was reported early Friday afternoon.
The crash happened north of Recluse off of Bay Horse Road, not far from the Montana state line, and sparked a timber fire that firefighters contained to about 38 acres, according to a Saturday morning Campbell County Fire Department press release.
Firefighters will remain on scene at the fire throughout the day, according to the release.
Multiple people who live near where the crash occurred told the News Record they noticed the plane circling and flying low before it crashed Friday afternoon. They almost immediately saw smoke rising from the area and went to help with their own firefighting vehicles on hand.
A piece of debris believed to be from the plane could be seen leading to the crash site.
Undersheriff Quentin Reynolds said Friday afternoon that there had been “confirmed fatalities” but was unsure who had died or the number of deaths. He said the National Transportation Safety Board took over the investigation and was sending a team to investigate the crash.
The National Transportation Safety Board spokesperson Keith Holloway said Saturday in an email to the News Record that the National Transportation Safety Board team would be on site Saturday.
“The aircraft is in a remote location and once they gain access, they will begin documenting the scene, examining the aircraft,” Holloway said in a statement to the News Record. “The aircraft will then be recovered and taken to a secure facility for further evaluation.”
Early information suggests that the plane, identified as a single engine turboprop Pilatus PC-12/47E, crashed at about 1:04 p.m., Holloway said.
Holloway told the Associated press on Saturday that early information pointed to an "autopilot issue during flight.”
The Federal Aviation Administration in Casper notified Campbell County agencies that a plane flying above the Campbell County area had sent out a distress signal, Reynolds said Friday afternoon.
The gospel quartet was traveling on its way to join an Alaskan cruise organized as a Gaither Homecoming Cruise with Christian musicians and performers, which was scheduled to depart from Seattle.
Nelon Streetman, the fourth member of the quartet, traveled separately to Seattle with her husband Jamie Streetman, where they learned about the crash, according to her statement.
“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 in the statement. “We appreciate your continued prayers, love and support as we navigate the coming days.”
The National Transportation Safety Board does not determine the cause of the crash during the on-scene phase of the investigation.
A preliminary report is expected within 30 days of the crash and will contain facts gathered during the initial investigation. Probable cause of the crash and contributing factors are detailed in a final report, which is expected in one to two years.
Witnesses or anyone with video or information relevant to the investigation are asked to contact the National Transportation Safety Board at witness@ntsb.gov.
This story was published on July 27, 2024.
