Georgia Gov't Official & Gospel Group Die in Plane Crash

A Georgia state official and members of a popular gospel group were among the dead in a Wyoming plane crash on Friday.

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A Georgia state official and several members of the Atlanta-based gospel group, The Nelons, were killed in a plane crash in Wyoming on Friday. Chairman of the Georgia Department of Corrections Board, Larry Haynie, and his wife Melissa, were among the dead, according to Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp.

"His impact on our state will not be forgotten," Kemp said in a statement.

The Nelons, on their way to a cruise in Alaska, lostKelly Nelon Clark, Jason Clark, Amber Nelon Kistler, and their assistant, Melodi Hodges. Nathan Kistler, Amber's husband, and the pilot, Haynie, were also killed.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is investigating the crash, which occurred around 1:04 p.m. MDT on Friday. NTSB Media Relations Specialist, Keith Holloway, said:

"It is very early in the investigation, and not much information is available."

The sole surviving member of The Nelons, Autumn Nelon Streetman, was not on board. In a statement, she asked for "continued prayers, love, and support."

The Nelons, formed in 1977, were inducted into the Gospel Music Association Hall of Fame in 2016.

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URLs

• https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=1063286448486892&set=a.332976444851233 (Gaither Homecoming Cruise in Alaska)
• https://x.com/GovKemp/status/1817196253769355396 (Larry Haynie's position)
• https://www.ntsb.gov/Pages/home.aspx (NTSB website)
• witness@ntsb.gov (NTSB witness email)
• https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=1063286448486892&set=a.332976444851233 (Autumn Nelon Streetman's statement)