On Friday, July 26, a tragic plane crash in Wyoming claimed the lives of seven individuals, including three members of the renowned gospel group, the Nelons. There were no survivors from the incident.
Keith Holloway, a spokesperson for the National Transportation Safety Board, indicated that an “autopilot issue during flight” is being investigated as a potential cause of the crash, with further assessments ongoing at the crash site.
Before the single-engine Pilatus PC-12/47E turboprop aircraft went down, Dr. Alan Diehl, a former investigator for the NTSB and FAA, as well as a U.S. Air Force Crash Investigator and Aviation Psychologist, shared his insights with Fox News Digital regarding the experiences of those on board during the fatal flight.
“Dark terror. That’s what I often refer to in my writings when describing incidents like [the fall of John F. Kennedy Jr.],” Diehl recounted. “The screaming would have been relentless, and while the aircraft involved did not have a voice recorder, I can only imagine that he and his two passengers were engulfed in terror as the plane plunged downwards, similar to this scenario.”
THREE MEMBERS OF GOSPEL MUSIC HALL OF FAME QUARTET, THE NELONS, AMONG 7 KILLED IN PLANE CRASH
Among those who perished in the plane crash were Jason Clark, Kelly Nelon Clark, and Amber Nelon Clark. Autumn (second left) was not aboard the aircraft during the incident.
(Terry Wyatt/Getty Images for Dove Awards)
“However, if the aircraft did experience a significant breakup and lost pressurization, there stands a chance that the passengers may have been unconscious or semi-conscious during the final moments, which could be seen as a form of mercy,” Diehl added.
The crash resulted in the deaths of co-founder Kelly Nelon Clark, her husband Jason Clark, and their daughter Amber Nelon Kistler, as confirmed by Autumn Nelon Streetman, the fourth member of the band and daughter.
“Thank you for the prayers that have been offered to me, my husband Jamie, and our soon-to-be-born baby boy, as well as Jason’s parents, Dan and Linda Clark,” she expressed. “Your continued prayers, love, and support mean so much to us as we face the challenging days ahead.”
“If the breakup occurred early enough, and they lost pressurization, they may have actually been unconscious or semi-conscious at the last minute or so. And that would be merciful. They would say that was God’s mercy.”
Also among the victims were Amber’s husband, Nathan Kistler, their assistant Melodi Hodges, pilot Larry Haynie, and his wife, Melissa, according to Nelon Streetman.
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Diehl indicated that ground investigators will commence a detailed effort to determine if the autopilot malfunctioned. He emphasized, “In such cases of failure, the FAA must be informed to facilitate the tracking of such incidents.”
Kelly Nelon Clark, Amber Nelon Thompson, Autumn Nelon Clark, and Jason Clark of The Nelons are seen at the 52nd GMA Dove Awards at Lipscomb Allen Arena on October 19, 2021, in Nashville, Tennessee.
(Jason Kempin/Getty Images)
He noted that upon their arrival, NTSB investigators would likely check if the bodies were “inside the aircraft” or not, and whether any clothing remained on the deceased.
“If the clothing was missing, it could imply that individuals were ejected while the aircraft was descending,” he revealed. “At terminal velocities of 200-300 mph, garments can easily get torn off unless they’re exceptionally restrictive, like tight jeans.”
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Diehl further stated, “Through my investigations into military accidents, it’s common to find flight suits stripped away, indicating that individuals were aware of their impending fate for an extended duration.”
Kathleen Bangs, an aviation safety expert and former airline pilot, explained to Fox News Digital that the Pilatus PC-12 is a high-end aircraft that requires only a single pilot for operation. She mentioned that adverse weather conditions might have contributed to the flight losing control.
Autumn Nelon Streetman (right) was not on board the aircraft that crashed, resulting in the tragic loss of her family members.
(Jason Davis/Getty Images for GMA)
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Bangs elaborated, “People commonly inquire if passengers were conscious during the descent. At 26,000 feet, the atmosphere is notably thin, and the chilling temperature combined with wind velocity could likely cause occupants to lose consciousness if they are ejected from the aircraft.”
“Yet, there are documented instances in which individuals were alert all the way down.”
The Atlanta-based Gospel music family was en route to the Gaither Homecoming Cruise in Alaska at the time of the crash, as stated by the cruise sponsor, Gaither Music Group. Autumn, the youngest child, and her husband Jamie Streetman were not on the flight and learned about the tragedy upon their arrival in Seattle.
“Autumn and Jamie will return home to be with Kelly’s brother, Todd Nelon, and his wife, Rhonda, to undertake the difficult tasks ahead. Please keep them, the Kistler family, the Haynie family, and Melodi Hodges’s loved ones in your prayers,” Gaither Music Group shared.
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A preliminary report regarding the crash should be made available in about 30 days, while a comprehensive report outlining the probable cause may take up to two years to finalize, Holloway stated.
The Nelons were honored with induction into the Gospel Music Association Hall of Fame in 2016 and have received 10 GMA Dove Awards, celebrating multiple song and album of the year achievements.
