The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) of the United States has concluded that the helicopter crash which claimed the life of former Group Chief Executive Officer of Access Holdings Plc, Dr. Herbert Wigwe, along with his wife, son, and three others, was caused by pilot error linked to spatial disorientation.
In its final report released on the tragic February 2024 incident, the NTSB also indicted the helicopter operator for failing to maintain proper safety oversight.
The helicopter, a Eurocopter EC130 (registration N130CZ), crashed near the California-Nevada border on February 9, 2024, while flying under visual flight rules in deteriorating weather conditions that required instrument-based navigation.
According to the NTSB, the pilot continued flying in poor visibility instead of switching to instrument flight rules, which led to spatial disorientation and eventual loss of control of the aircraft.
“The probable cause of this accident was the pilot’s decision to continue the VFR flight into instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in the pilot’s spatial disorientation and loss of control,” the report stated.
The crash resulted in the death of all six people on board — Dr. Wigwe, his wife Doreen, their son Chizi, former NGX Group Chairman Abimbola Ogunbanjo, and two crew members.
The report further revealed that the helicopter company failed to enforce vital safety protocols, including risk assessments, maintenance checks, and regulatory compliance.
Significantly, the helicopter’s radar altimeter, a key instrument for safe low-altitude flying, was found to be non-functional prior to the flight. The NTSB said the pilot had reported the issue to the company’s maintenance team, but the problem was not resolved before the ill-fated journey.
Despite being aware of the faulty radar altimeter, the pilot and company officials still proceeded with the flight. Additionally, no discussion was held regarding weather conditions or the altimeter’s status prior to takeoff with passengers.
The NTSB concluded that a combination of poor decision-making by the pilot and operational lapses by the helicopter operator led to the fatal crash.
