A plane crash that claimed the lives of three members of the gospel group The Nelons and four others may have been caused by an equipment malfunction.
The single-engine Pilatus PC-12/47E turboprop airplane reported an ‘autopilot issue during flight’ before crashing Friday afternoon in northeast Wyoming.
Beloved members of The Nelons, Kelly Nelon Clark, Jason Clark, and Amber Nelon Kistler, were killed on board, alongside four others.
Dan Gryder, a pilot and crash investigator, suggested that such extreme movements at 300 mph could have caused the plane to break apart mid-air.
‘Like, when you stick your hand out going down the road,’ Gryder told the Cowboy State Daily. ‘It forces your hand up with a lot of force.’
The force of the plan could have sparked a ‘domino effect’ with parts of the plane breaking off while still airborne, Gryder said, leaving passengers to endure every minute of the violent descent until impact.
Once the plane starts to break apart, ‘you’re done,’ he told the outlet, explaining that it’s impossible to reverse the crash at that point.
The impact would have come after two violent minutes, which he believes everyone on board would have been alive to experience until the crash.
Among the victims were Kelly Nelon Clark, Jason Clark, and Amber Nelon Kistler of The Nelons, along with Nathan Kistler, Melodi Hodges, and Larry and Melissa Haynie.
The plane reported an equipment malfunction common with problems that model of aircraft is known to have, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) spokesman Keith Holloway told the outlet.
Flight data indicates the aircraft experienced violent pitching up and down before plummeting from an altitude of 26,000 feet.
The aircraft, which had departed from Nebraska and was bound for Billings, Montana, crashed near the Montana border in northern Campbell County.
Local law enforcement reported finding debris scattered over a large area, supporting the theory of mid-air breakup.
The crash also ignited a significant fire due to the plane’s fuel load, which local firefighters battled from the air and ground.
NTSB are set to share a preliminary report in about two weeks after an investigation.
‘The aircraft is in a remote location, and once (investigators) gain access, they will begin documenting the scene, examining the aircraft,’ Holloway said Saturday. ‘The aircraft will then be recovered and taken to a secure facility for further evaluation.’
This weekend, devastating footage taken by singer Jason Nelon Clark showed six of the seven victims laughing amongst each other just hours before the tragic accident.
Jason, Kelly, and Amber smiled in the post, which was captioned, ‘Gaither Alaskan Cruise Travel Vlog.’
Melodi, Larry, and Melissa looked excited to board their flight in the footage.
Amber’s husband Nathan, who was also on board the flight when it crashed, was not seen in the clip.
In the video, Jason said: ‘Gaither Homecoming Alaskan Cruise, we are on our way. We just landed in Nebraska.’
Kelly laughed before the camera was turned around to show their pilot.
Jason quipped: ‘There’s our wonderful pilot. This is the dude right there.’
The clip ended with the high-spirited group stating they were going to Nebraska City before traveling to Montana for a second stop.
Fourth member Autumn, who wasn’t on the plane, released a statement on Saturday to announce the tragedy.
She wrote: ‘As many of you have heard by now, my father and mother, Jason and Kelly Nelon Clark, along with my sister, Amber, and brother-in-law, Nathan, as well as our dear friends Melodi Hodges, Larry, and Melissa Haynie, were involved in a tragic plane crash on Friday.
‘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. We appreciate your continued prayers, love, and support as we navigate the coming days.’
A statement from Gaither Management Group added: ‘One of the best loved Gospel music families in America, The Nelons were involved in a tragic, fatal plane crash on Friday afternoon on their way to join the Gaither Homecoming Cruise to Alaska.
‘Killed in the crash were Jason and Kelly Nelon Clark, Amber and Nathan Kistler and their assistant, Melodi Hodges, along with the pilot, Larry Haynie and his wife, Melissa. The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the accident.
