On August 28, 2024, the NTSB shared an early report about a deadly Nelons Plane Crash on July 26, killing all seven people on board, including three from the gospel group.
The pilot said there was an emergency because the autopilot stopped working about 12 miles northeast of Recluse, Wyoming.
Witnesses heard a loud noise and saw the plane do a barrel roll before hitting the ground. The Nelons were flying to Alaska for a show when the crash happened.
The Aircraft Involved
The Pilatus PC-12/47E is a small plane made by Pilatus Aircraft in Switzerland. Itās powered by a Pratt & Whitney engine and can fly both people and cargo.
It can hold up to eight passengers and a crew, reaching speeds up to 285 knots and flying up to 1,608 nautical miles.
Itās known for being able to land on short, rough airstrips and has a pressurized cabin thatās about 16 feet long, 5 feet wide, and 4.10 feet tall.
Emergency Declaration
In the last few seconds of the flight, the Nelonsā pilot said there was an emergency because the autopilot stopped working.
The controller asked where they wanted to land, but the pilot didnāt answer at first. He said he was trying to fix the problem.
The autopilot stopped working right before the crash, and the plane lost its radar and radio signals. This made the Federal Aviation Administration send out an alert.
Witness Accounts
People close to the Nelons plane crash, which happened on July 26, 2024, included locals and travelers who saw it.
It was a peaceful day before the plane sounded like it was in trouble, made loud noises, then did a flip before crashing.
Witnesses were shocked and some helped the emergency teams. This sad event affected those who saw it, making them remember the loss and suddenness of it.
The āBarrel Rollā Maneuver
A person close to the crash said they saw the plane doing a barrel roll right before it crashed.
Before Nelons Plane Crash they heard the engine āroaring loudā right before it hit, making the crash look very scary. Doing a barrel roll means the pilot had a hard time keeping the plane steady, which suggests the autopilot stopped working.
The Impact and Aftermath
The Nelons plane crash was about 12 miles northeast of Recluse, Wyoming, in a hard-to-reach area with tough terrain.
It happened around 1 p.m. on July 26, 2024, and a small fire was quickly put out by local firefighters. Police and emergency teams arrived quickly to control the fire and help anyone who might have survived, but sadly, all seven people on the plane died.
The Campbell County Fire Department stayed to keep an eye on things, and the NTSB started looking into the crash and the plane to learn more.
Investigation by the NTSB
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is an important group that looks into plane crashes in the U.S.
It works on its own and is in charge of figuring out why crashes happen and giving advice to stop them from happening again.
After the Nelons Plane Crash, the NTSB quickly shared a first report about the crash, including what the pilot did when the autopilot stopped working, the last move the plane made, and the sad result that led to the deaths of everyone on the plane.
This first report gives a basic look at what happened, but more detailed studies are planned to understand why the crash occurred.
Expert Opinions on the Crash
Experts are looking into the Nelons plane crash, using early reports and what people saw to figure out what happened.
The pilot said the autopilot stopped working, and they lost their radar and radio, which means something important went wrong and they lost control.
People heard a loud noise and saw the plane doing a weird roll before crashing. Even though the NTSB is still investigating, it seems the autopilot failure and the pilotās struggle to fix it were big reasons the crash happened.
The Nelons plane crash is an example of how dangerous flying can be, even with skilled pilots and good planes.
As we learn more from this event, we aim to improve safety in flying to prevent such tragedies.
The loss of The Nelons and their family is deeply felt in the gospel music world and shows how life is fragile and safety is crucial in every flight.
