Russell M. Nelson, president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, is known for recounting dramatic and miraculous personal experiences that highlight his faith and divine protection. However, over the years, these stories have evolved into exaggerated, faith-promoting narratives, raising questions about the accuracy of his accounts. One such story is Nelson’s account of a perilous flight, which has grown more dramatic with each telling. This pattern of embellishment isn’t isolated. A similar trend can be seen in other events. Another, where Nelson was reportedly present during a robbery in Mozambique that, over time, turned into a tale of miraculous deliverance from an attempted kidnapping at gunpoint—a gun to his head even failed to fire, and he was miraculously released.
Here’s another of Nelson’s favorite stories, when his small plane had some engine trouble and made a cautionary landing. The official report from the Civil Aeronautics Board admits there was engine trouble, but Nelson prefers to tell a story of his calm countenance when engines are exploding and the plane spirals to a sure death.
Spiral Dive of Certain Death
The first known record of this incident was from the preface to his 1979 autobiography which he signed as being written December 25, 1978.
The original motivation to write this review seemed to spring simultaneously from my dear wife, Dantzel, and from President Spencer W. Kimball. Then a plea from President B. Lloyd Poelman provided additional prompting. Unifocal direction from three I loved so much could not be ignored. The final nudge came as I was a passenger in a small airplane plummeting earthward with one of its two engines exploded. I realized then that although both the spiritual and material needs for my family had been provided, I had not left for them a reasonable recapitulation of my life that they could review. The safe emergency landing of that disabled aircraft provided me with the chance I needed.
Russell M. Nelson, From Heart to Heart: An Autobiography, Quality Press, Inc. 1979. Preface, Page ix.
https://archive.org/details/from-heart-to-heart-an-autobiography-russell-m.-nelson/page/n5/mode/2up
This same autobiography publishes his journal entry for that day as follows:
November 12—Flew to St. George. When one of the small airplane’s engines exploded, I expected to be killed. But after a precipitous dive in the disabled plane, the pilot made a safe emergency landing in Delta. I was going to St. George to give the opening prayer at the inaugural services at which Rolfe Kerr became president of Dixie College.
Russell M. Nelson, From Heart to Heart: An Autobiography, Quality Press, Inc. 1979. Highlights of 1977, Page 376.
https://archive.org/details/from-heart-to-heart-an-autobiography-russell-m.-nelson/page/n194/mode/1up
Nelson recounts the story in an April 1992 General Conference address:
I remember vividly an experience I had as a passenger in a small two-propeller airplane. One of its engines suddenly burst open and caught on fire. The propeller of the flaming engine was starkly stilled. As we plummeted in a steep spiral dive toward the earth, I expected to die. Some of the passengers screamed in hysterical panic. Miraculously, the precipitous dive extinguished the flames. Then, by starting up the other engine, the pilot was able to stabilize the plane and bring us down safely.
Throughout that ordeal, though I “knew” death was coming, my paramount feeling was that I was not afraid to die. I remember a sense of returning home to meet ancestors for whom I had done temple work. I remember my deep sense of gratitude that my sweetheart and I had been sealed eternally to each other and to our children, born and reared in the covenant. I realized that our marriage in the temple was my most important accomplishment. Honors bestowed upon me by men could not approach the inner peace provided by sealings performed in the house of the Lord.
That harrowing experience consumed but a few minutes, yet my entire life flashed before my mind. Having had such rapid recall when facing death, I do not doubt the scriptural promise of “perfect remembrance” when facing judgment… We need not look upon death as an enemy. With full understanding and preparation, faith supplants fear… Cherish each moment as a blessing from God. Live it well—even to your loftiest potential. Then the anticipation of death shall not hold you hostage.
Elder Russell M. Nelson, Doors of Death, General Conference, April 1992
https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/1992/04/doors-of-death?lang=eng
In this version, Nelson contrasts his calm, almost serene acceptance of death with the “hysterical panic” of his fellow passengers. However, he describes the engine as bursting open and catching fire, seemingly resulting in severe damage to the plane. His story becomes even more elaborate in the 2011 video, reused as recently as 2021:
In 2011, the church released a video featuring a gripping story told by church president, Russell M. Nelson. The story, centered on a harrowing flight from Salt Lake City, depicts a calm Nelson facing certain death after one of the engines exploded, while a fellow passenger descended into uncontrollable hysteria. But was this incident truly as dramatic as he described, or has it been embellished over time?
I was in a small airplane, and all of the sudden the engine on the wing caught fire. It exploded and burning oil was poured all over the right side of the airplane and we started to dive toward the earth.We were spinning down our death.
Oh, this woman across the aisle, I just wasso sorry for her. She was just absolutely uncontrollably hysterical. And I was calm. I was totally calm, even though I knew I was going downto my death. I was ready to meet my Maker.
We didn’t crash. We didn’t die. The spiral dive extinguished the flame. The pilot got control and started the other engine up. We made an emergency landing out in a field.
But I thought, through that experience, if you’ve got faith, you can handle difficulties knowing that with an eternal perspective that all will be well. In Luke 21, “The Earth shall be in distress, nations with perplexity, the seas and the waves roaring. Men’s hearts failing them for fear.” What we’re seeing is a prediction that in these latter days people will be afraid. Men’s hearts are failing, and that includes women, because they forget their identity and their purpose. The heartaches will come.
I’ve lived through the death of a wife and the death of a daughter. I’ve seen the troubles that divorce brings. Children or grandchildren go astray, disability, illness, injuries.
To the individual who is weak in the heart, fearful in the heart, be patient with yourself. Perfection comes not in this life, but in the next life. Don’t demand things that are unreasonable, but demand of yourself improvement. As you let the Lord help you through that, He will make the difference. I’m so grateful for the gospel of Jesus Christ that allows me that kind of strength in these tumultuous times.
Men’s Hearts Shall Fail Them, Video from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Narrated by Russell M. Nelson
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EMwKxmTLaCs
In this retelling, Nelson not only emphasizes his remarkable calm but also adds new details—oil pouring all over the right side of the plane and the inclusion of a hysterical woman across the aisle. He notes that the pilot restarted the engine and regained control of the plane, and they made an emergency landing in a field. The story grows more intense, and the dichotomy between his peace and the passenger’s hysteria deepens.
Sheri Dew’s biography of Russell M. Nelson, Insights From A Prophets Life, includes this story too with creative phrases and embellishments. It is interesting to note that Nelson recorded the event in his journal and published it in his autobiography in 1979, but as he retold it later on, we see more details that were not in his first account. His first was a very brief entry, and in conference, he elaborates, and these dramatic details make it into every retelling after, and even seem to grow with time.
On November 12, 1976, Russell Nelson had boarded a commuter plane in Salt Lake City to fly the quick route to St. George, Utah, where he was to give the invocation at the inauguration of W. Rolfe Kerr as the president of Dixie College.
It was a short hop of less than an hour in a small, two-engine propeller plane. Only four passengers were on board. The pilot had just announced that they were halfway to St. George when the engine on the right wing exploded, spewing oil all over the right side of the aircraft and then bursting into flames. In an attempt to douse the flames, the pilot turned the fuel off, causing the small plane to go suddenly into a free fall death spiral.
The woman across the aisle from Russell began to scream hysterically. But Russell felt calm. “It was the most amazing thing,” he said. ‘I thought, ‘My wife and I are sealed. Our children are sealed to us. I’ve honored my covenants. I’ll meet my ancestors and go on to a glorious resurrection.’He was, however, impressed with how quickly and comprehensively the mind can work. ‘It’s true, your life does flash before you. I had a bright recollection and perfect remembrance of my whole life. One major thought was that all of the framed awards and honors on my wall, the various clothes I’d worn — tuxedos and uniforms and doctoral robes — didn’t mean anything. What mattered was that I had my garments on and had been faithful to the covenants I’d made in the temple. I knew I was going to die, but I knew I would be fine.’
Miraculously, the free fall extinguished the fire, and, in the nick of time, the pilot was able to start the left engine, regain control of the plane, and guide it to an emergency landing in a farmer’s field not far from Delta, Utah. Everyone walked away from the incident unharmed. Another plane was dispatched, and Russell made it to St. George in time to give the invocation.
Insights from a Prophet’s life, Sheri Dew, Deseret Book, 2019
https://www.deseretbook.com/product/P5219532.html
Points of the story as told by Russell M. Nelson:
- small two-propeller airplane
- engine caught on fire
- Nelson expected to die
- Nelson not afraid
- 4/several passengers
- some/one woman screamed in hysterical panic
- steep spiral dive – free fall death spiral
- emergency landing
As dramatic as these points are, do they hold up against the actual records? It would seem that if the incident is authentic, there would be an official incident report somewhere. Engines exploding and catching on fire are things that airlines take seriously, even in the 1970s.
Consider the Facts
After some considerable searching, sleuths have found a record of this incident. The search was complicated as the day seems to be confused in Nelson’s record, as he must have flown to St. George the day before (Nov 11, 1976) the service at Dixie College (Nov 12, 1976). The Civil Aeronautics Board Reports from November 11, 1976, tells the following story. Here’s the official account:
Second incident occurred Nov 11 1976 involving Piper PA 31 N74985. Pilot experienced rough engine on scheduled flight between Salt Lake City and St. George. 3 passengers on board. Engine was feathered and precautionary landing made at Delta, Utah per instructions in company manual. Investigation revealed cylinder base studs sheered. As result of occurrence Sky West changed maintenance procedures by checking torque studs at each 100 hour inspection. No damage to aircraft. No injuries to crew or passengers.
Civil Aeronautics Board Reports, Volume 73, Economic Cases of the Civil Aeronautics Board, March to June 1977, Page 1089-1090
https://www.google.com/books/edition/Economic_Decisions_of_the_Civil_Aeronaut/wNa3AAAAIAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&pg=PA1090&printsec=frontcover
The facts seem to be very different in this official story. The report omits Nelson’s claims of an engine explosion or fire. There was no burning oil, and no freefall spiral toward imminent death. Instead, the pilot performed a precautionary landing at an airport in Delta, Utah, after feathering the engine—a standard technique when an engine fails. There was no significant danger to the aircraft or its passengers.
The facts according to the Civil Aeronautics Board Reports:
- Nov 11, 1976
- Flight from SLC to St. George
- 3 passengers
- experienced a rough engine
- engine feathered
- precautionary landing at Delta, Utah airport (not farmer’s field)
- no mention of an exploded engine
- no mention of the engine on fire
- no mention of burning oil spill on right wing
- no free fall death spiral
According to the report, there was no fire during the incident. If there had been an engine fire, the pilot would have been required to declare an emergency, but since this was classified as a “precautionary” landing, it indicates that no fire occurred. The issue arose from a maintenance problem where studs holding one of the engine’s cylinder jugs to the crankcase sheared off. If more studs had failed, it could have led to a catastrophic failure, but that wasn’t the case here.
When the engine began running roughly, the pilot likely shut it down as a precaution to avoid further damage, using a process called “feathering.” This involves turning the propeller blades to reduce drag, and it would have been unaffected by any fire (if there had been one). Feathering the propeller helps prevent further damage and maintains some control of the plane, though it would reduce power.
During this procedure, the pilot would manage the loss of power by adjusting thrust and rudder controls, compensating for asymmetrical thrust. The shutdown would involve setting the fuel and electrical systems for the affected engine to off, while increasing power to the functioning engine. Though this process could lead to a minor loss of altitude, there would be no sharp dive or dramatic spiraling, and certainly not a “free fall” or “death spiral”. Therefore, the situation would not have caused intense panic or hysteria among passengers.
The report also details the specific airplane that was involved, a Piper PA-31, and specifically the N74985. Interestingly enough, the Wikipedia article for this model includes a section for accidents and incidents, and the details of this flight in November 1976 are surprisingly not listed, as the story is not likely based on reality.
Nelson recounts the incident with a dramatic flair, but the factual record remains clear: no damage, no fiery explosion, and no life-threatening spiral. The plane did alter course and made a precautionary landing at the Delta, Utah airport rather than the St. George, Utah airport, but certainly not a firey emergency miraculous landing in a farmer’s field.
Looking at the facts, we can see that Nelson embellished almost everything about the incident. Although he could likely be telling the truth about remaining calm through the experience. This isn’t the only time Nelson has been caught embellishing a miraculous story, another tale is his non targeted robbery in Mozambique which evolved into an attempted murder and kidnapping. The church joins in on the embellishments in this story, complete with emotional storytelling and background music in the church-produced video. The video aims to inspire faith, but all the embellishments become glaring when facts are compared to the narrative.
We could keep in mind that a real pilot (like Elder Uchtdorf) would probably describe the incident differently than a passenger. When we don’t understand the severity of events, it becomes easy to exaggerate them. But the leap from slight engine trouble to exploding engines spewing oil and flames are entirely different situations, no matter your familiarity with piloting an airplane. Maybe Russell Nelson should leave the airplane stories to Dieter Uchtdorf.
The story is exaggerated in order to make the point that Nelson was calm in an extreme situation, the more extreme the situation, the more impressive his composure. The feeling of fear as a plane’s altitude changes abruptly can be enough to make imaginations run wild, this is what leads to hysterics. But Nelson’s growing narrative of experiencing a rough engine and precautionary landing as the plane being in flames, engine exploding, and a spiral down to certain death sounds more like the hysterics he mocks his fellow passenger for. Who was it that kept their composer in the real story? It sounds like it was the pilot who kept everyone safe and kept his calm rather than a passenger witnessing hysterics. It’s much more likely that the pilot witnessed the hysterics of his passengers as they thought the plane or engine was on fire, while he calmly and safely rerouted and landed in Delta and filed his report.
This pattern of exaggeration raises questions about Nelson’s reliability as a leader. Was this embellished story of divine inspiration told harmlessly as an object lesson to inspire listeners, or is it part of a larger tendency to inflate personal experiences for dramatic effect and appear heroic or inspired? In the end, while Nelson’s calmness may be admirable, the spiraling flight of death wasn’t quite the near-death experience he portrays. Like others he has shared, the story seems more about reinforcing his role as a divinely protected leader than sticking to the truth of the event itself.
Faith-promoting Stories vs The Truth
These evolving narratives raise larger questions: How much does the church value truth, and how much does it prioritize faith-promoting stories?
Throughout its history, the church has often prioritized the latter, frequently simplifying or whitewashing complex events and even gaslighting members who point it out. Its official curriculum carefully omits or reinterprets facts that might challenge the faith of its members. Quotes from past church leaders are often taken out of context, chopped up with ellipses, or presented with creative license to fit the desired correlated narrative. The truth, when examined closely, is often much more nuanced and far less miraculous than the stories told to members in Sunday lessons or conference talks.
In this environment, it’s no wonder that President Nelson might feel it’s acceptable to embellish stories of his own life. After all, these are the kinds of narratives the church thrives on—faith-promoting tales that elevate its leaders to near-mythical status. Like many aspects of church history, Nelson’s personal experiences are sometimes transformed into stories that fit neatly into a narrative of divine intervention, even if the facts suggest something more ordinary.
When we look at the actual facts—whether it’s the flight that supposedly spiraled toward death or the attempted kidnapping that never quite happened as described—we can see that the shared story is often just that: a story. A story meant to aggrandize the church and its leaders, casting them as protected by divine power in every moment of their lives, and even enlightened enough to remain clam and confident in the face of certain death. But the truth, though perhaps less sensational, places church leaders on the same mortal ground as the rest of us. That truth, though it may not be as flashy or dramatic, is far more realistic and far more human.
Did you hear Russell M. Nelson share this story? What do you think of the story now that you see the actual aeronautics report? Does his story line up with the official report or has he embellished it? Are his stories fantastical and dramatic, and if so is it harmless storytelling, or is there something nefarious at work here? If we can’t trust his simple stories to be true, can we trust his declarations? He stands as Prophet of God and President of His Church, does that come with a higher standard for truth? When he proclaims that a policy is a result of revelation from God, is that true, or is that a fantastical embellishment as well? Is President Nelson a wishful President who hopes all his thoughts are revelations from God or is he measured and can he tell the difference between his own thoughts, stories, ideas and veritable revelations from God? What do you think? Have these lies from church leaders increased your faith or challenged it? Consider sharing the whole story of your faith struggle, though try not to embellish too much.
More reading:
- President Nelson Embellishing Stories to Promote Faith
- Mormon Church Whitewashes Racist History in Essay
- https://www.ldsdiscussions.com/nelson
- https://radiofreemormon.org/2019/06/radio-free-mormon-072-the-miracle-making-of-president-nelson/
- https://www.pilotsofamerica.com/community/threads/investigating-old-incident.133551/
- https://discussmormonism.com/viewtopic.php?p=29324#p29324
- https://www.reddit.com/r/mormon/comments/op5ygb/president_nelsons_airplane_accident_story_is_a/
- https://www.reddit.com/r/exmormon/comments/opf8cw/breaking_president_nelsons_flight_story_proven_to/
- https://www.fairlatterdaysaints.org/answers/Question:_Did_Russell_M._Nelson_exaggerate_his_story_about_being_in_a_falling_airplane%3F