An expert believes that the gospel group may have experienced "dark terror" during the fatal plane crash that resulted in the deaths of seven individuals.

On July 26, 2019, a plane crash in Wyoming resulted in the death of three members of the gospel group, the Nelons, along with four others. Unfortunately, there were no survivors.

The National Transportation Safety Board spokesperson, Keith Holloway, noted an "autopilot issue during flight" as a cause for concern after investigating the crash site. Further evaluation of the situation is ongoing.

Dr. Alan Diehl, a former NTSB, FAA and U.S. Air Force Crash Investigator, Aviation Psychologist and author of, "Requiem for Camelot," described to Planet Chronicle Digital what the passengers on the fatal flight may have experienced prior to the single-engine Pilatus PC-12/47E turboprop airplane crashing.

John F. Kennedy Jr. falling from the sky is typically described as a scene of dark terror in my novel," Diehl said. "I stated that it was the end, but the screaming was based on the assumption that he and his two passengers were in terror as the plane plummeted to the ground, similar to this one.

"In this scenario, you are aware of the actual breakup, but we are unaware of it. The possibility of the plane losing pressurization is also uncertain. If the breakup happened early enough and they lost pressurization, they may have been unconscious or semi-conscious at the end. This would be a merciful outcome, as they would say it was God's mercy."

According to Autumn Nelon Streetman, Kelly Nelon Clark, her husband Jason Clark, and their daughter Amber Nelon Kistler died in a crash.

"We are grateful for the prayers, love, and support that have been extended to us, including my husband, Jamie, our soon-to-be-born baby boy, and Jason’s parents, Dan and Linda Clark. Thank you for your continued support as we face the challenges ahead."

"If the breakup occurred early enough, and they lost pressurization, they may have actually been unconscious or semi-conscious at the last minute or so. And that would be merciful. They would say that was God's mercy." — Dr. Alan Diehl

According to Nelon Streetman, Amber's husband Nathan Kistler, assistant Melodi Hodges, pilot Larry Haynie, and his wife Melissa were also killed in the crash.

Investigators will commence a significant endeavor to determine if the autopilot malfunctioned, according to Diehl. He further stated, "In theory, whenever something like this happens, you must inform the FAA so that they can begin tracking the data."

When NTSB investigators arrived on scene, they likely examined the bodies to determine if they were "in the aircraft" or if clothes were on their bodies.

"If their clothes were off, it means they were thrown out while the airplane was still falling," he said. "Your clothes, if you're coming down at two, 300 miles an hour, I don't care what you're wearing, unless it's really tight blue jeans, your clothes get ripped off."

Diehl stated, "Military accidents often result in flight suits being torn off, leaving soldiers to face certain death for a brief period."

An aviation safety expert and former airline pilot, Kathleen Bangs, informed Planet Chronicle Digital that the Pilatus PC 12 is a costly aircraft that can be operated by just one pilot. The flight may have been impacted by adverse weather conditions, resulting in the plane losing control.

Bangs stated that people frequently inquire about whether individuals were conscious during the event. At 26,000 feet, the air is thin, and there is always a possibility that with the oncoming velocity of the air hitting you at 300 miles per hour and the sudden drop in temperature, occupants could lose consciousness if ejected.

"People have remained conscious during their descent in certain instances."

The Gospel music family from Atlanta was on their way to join the Gaither Homecoming Cruise in Alaska when their plane crashed. However, Autumn, the family's youngest daughter, and her husband, Jamie Streetman, were not on the plane and learned of the crash when they arrived safely in Seattle.

The Kistler family, the Haynie family, and the family of Melodi Hodges are being prayed for as Autumn and Jamie return home to Kelly’s brother, Todd Nelon and his wife, Rhonda, to tackle the difficult tasks ahead.

Holloway stated that a preliminary report on the crash is expected in approximately 30 days, while a final report with the probable cause of the crash could take up to two years to complete.

In 2016, the Nelons were inducted into the Gospel Music Association Hall of Fame and won 10 GMA Dove Awards, including multiple song of the year and album of the year awards.