Jay Boss
The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has identified pilot error and safety oversight failures as the causes of the helicopter crash that claimed the lives of former Access Holdings CEO Herbert Wigwe, his wife Doreen, their son Chizi, and three others.
The tragic accident occurred on February 9, 2024, near the California-Nevada border. Also among the victims was Abimbola Ogunbanjo, former chairman of the Nigerian Exchange Group Plc.
According to the NTSB report, the pilot made a fatal decision to continue flying under visual flight rules despite encountering instrument meteorological conditions. This led to spatial disorientation and loss of control.
“The probable cause of the accident was the pilot’s decision to continue the VFR flight into IMC, resulting in spatial disorientation and a subsequent crash,” the report stated.
The investigation also exposed serious safety management lapses by the helicopter operator, including poor oversight of maintenance procedures and non-compliance with federal aviation regulations.
Notably, the report revealed that the aircraft’s radar altimeter was known to be faulty prior to the flight. The pilot, Director of Maintenance, and even the company president—who also served as a flight follower—were aware of the malfunction but chose to proceed.
A company mechanic had attempted to troubleshoot the issue but was unsuccessful. Despite this, the flight took off at 6:22 p.m. to pick up passengers.
The NTSB concluded that the operator’s failure to address these safety risks significantly contributed to the fatal crash.
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