The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has released its final report on the helicopter crash that claimed the lives of Herbert Wigwe, the former Group Chief Executive Officer of Access Holdings Plc, his family, and others in February 2024.
The report, issued on Monday, concluded that the primary cause of the crash was the pilot’s decision to continue flying under visual flight rules despite encountering instrument meteorological conditions.
According to the report, this critical misjudgment led to the pilot’s spatial disorientation and subsequent loss of control of the aircraft.
It was reported that the tragic incident occurred on February 9, 2024, near the California-Nevada border.
All six individuals aboard the helicopter perished in the crash. Among them were Herbert Wigwe, his wife Doreen, their son Chizi, and Abimbola Ogunbanjo, the former Group Chairman of the Nigerian Exchange Group Plc.
Beyond pilot error, the NTSB cited deeper systemic issues within the operating company. The agency identified a lack of proper oversight in the company’s safety management procedures as a contributing factor to the accident. Investigators highlighted serious lapses in pre-flight risk assessments, maintenance documentation, and adherence to regulatory standards.
“The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) determines the probable cause of this accident to be: The pilot’s decision to continue the visual flight rules flight into instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in the pilot’s spatial disorientation and loss of control,” a part of the report reads.
“Contributing to the accident was the company’s inadequate oversight of its safety management processes, including ensuring the pilots were accurately completing and updating the flight risk analysis, logging maintenance discrepancies, and ensuring the helicopter met Part 135 regulations before departure.
“During the return flight, the pilot texted the director of maintenance (DOM) about the issue. After arriving at the company’s flight operations base, the pilot discussed the issue with the company flight follower (who was also the company’s president).”
