Terrifying final minutes gospel group The Nelons endured before they died in plane crash is revealed by aviation expert
A plane crash that killed 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 plane reported an “in-flight autopilot problem” before crashing Friday afternoon in northeastern Wyoming.
Dan Gryder, pilot and crash investigator, suggested that such extreme movements at speeds of 300 mph (480 km/h) could have caused the plane to break up in mid-air.
“Like when you reach out your hand when you go out on the road,” Gryder told the Cowboy State Daily. ‘Your hand is pushed up with a lot of force.’
According to Gryder, the scale of the plan could have caused a “domino effect” with parts of the plane breaking off while it was still in the air, leaving passengers to endure every minute of the violent descent until impact.
The plane crash that killed three members of the gospel group The Nelons and four others may have been caused by an equipment malfunction. (Pictured: L-R, Jason Clark, Autumn Nelon Clark, Kelly Nelon Clark and Amber Nelon Clark of the music group The Nelons)
The single-engine Pilatus PC-12/47E turboprop plane reported an “in-flight autopilot problem” before crashing in northeastern Wyoming on Friday afternoon
Once the plane starts falling apart, it’s over for you, he told the news agency, explaining that at that point it’s impossible to undo the crash.
The impact is said to have occurred after two intense minutes. He thinks that everyone on board experienced the impact.
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.
According to Keith Holloway, spokesman for the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), the plane reported an equipment malfunction that is common on this type of aircraft.
Flight data shows the plane pitched violently before crashing from an altitude of 26,000 feet.
The force of the plan could have caused a “domino effect” with parts of the plane breaking off while it was still in the air, Gryder said, leaving passengers to endure every minute of the violent descent leading up to impact. (Pictured: Kelly Nelon Clark, Amber Nelon Thompson, Autumn Nelon Clark and Jason Clark of The Nelons)
A heartbreaking video has surfaced detailing the final moments of American group The Nelons (pictured from left to right: Jason Nelon Clark, Melodi Hodges, Kelly Nelon Clark and Melissa Haynie)
The plane, which had departed from Nebraska and was en route to Billings, Montana, crashed near the Montana border in northern Campbell County.
Local police reported finding debris over a large area, supporting the theory of mid-air debris.
The crash also caused a major fire in the plane’s fuel supply. The local fire department fought the fire from the air and on the ground.
The NTSB is expected to release a preliminary report within approximately two weeks of the investigation.
“The aircraft is in a remote location and once (investigators) gain access, they will begin documenting the scene and examining the aircraft,” Holloway said Saturday. “The aircraft will then be recovered and taken to a secure facility for further evaluation.”