Autopilot Malfunction Led To Plane Crash That Killed Three Members Of The Gospel Group, The Nelons

The plane crash that killed three members of the gospel group, The Nelons, was a result of an autopilot issue.

A single-engine Pilatus PC-12/47E turboprop airplane, which crashed on July 27 afternoon in northeast Wyoming, killing all seven onboard, had an autopilot malfunction, according to national authorities.

National Transportation Safety Board spokesman Keith Holloway said in a statement that preliminary information showed the plane went down after reporting an “autopilot issue during flight.”

The plane left Nebraska about midday Friday and was headed for Billings, Montana. It crashed about 1:00 p.m. near the Montana border in northern Campbell County.

Among those killed were three members of The Nelons: co-founder Kelly Nelon Clark, her husband Jason Clark, and her daughter Amber Nelon Kistler. 

The other victims were Nathan Kistler, Melodi Hodges and Larry and Melissa Haynie.

The plane reported an autopilot issue and violent pitching up and down before plummeting from an altitude of 26,000 feet. A report by Flight Aware showed the plane’s frantic whipping up and down at 300 miles per hour, which would have caused it to break apart.

Agency protocol stated NTSB investigators are on site and will issue a preliminary report in about two weeks, according to agency protocol.

“The aircraft is in a remote location, and once [investigators] gain access, they will begin documenting the scene, examining the aircraft,” Holloway noted in the statement. “The aircraft will then be recovered and taken to a secure facility for further evaluation.”

The force the plane may have been under could have started a domino effect of parts breaking off the plane and then additional breakage.

Campbell County law enforcement scanner communications responding to the crash on Friday afternoon also affirmed this. One agent noted finding plane parts in a more extensive perimeter than one would expect from just the crash’s impact.

The plane fueled up in Nebraska shortly before flying over Wyoming. When approaching the Wyoming-Montana border, it may have carried about 300 gallons of jet fuel.

The jet fuel that crashed into Wyoming started a massive fire that Campbell County authorities fought by air and on the ground.