The United States National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has concluded its investigation into the helicopter crash that killed Herbert Wigwe, former CEO of Access Holdings, along with his wife, son, and three others.
In a final report released Wednesday, the agency noted that the tragic crash was primarily caused by pilot error, specifically spatial disorientation, worsened by poor weather and faulty equipment.
The NTSB stated that the pilot continued flying under visual flight rules despite deteriorating weather conditions that required instrument-based navigation.
“The probable cause of this accident was 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,” the report said.
The crash occurred on February 9, 2024, near the border of California and Nevada. All six people onboard the Airbus Helicopters EC130, registered as N130CZ, were killed. Among the victims were Wigwe, his wife Doreen, their son Chizi, and Abimbola Ogunbanjo, the former chairman of Nigerian Exchange Group Plc.
Investigators also noted serious failures on the part of the helicopter operator. According to the report, the company had inadequate oversight of its safety procedures. This included poor tracking of maintenance problems and failure to ensure pilots completed required safety checks before flights.
One of the most concerning details was that the radar altimeter, a key instrument for determining altitude during low-visibility flights, was not working. The report stated that the pilot was aware of the malfunction before takeoff.
A company mechanic had attempted to fix it but failed. “A company mechanic performed some troubleshooting on the radar altimeter; however, he was unable to rectify the issue, and the radar altimeter remained non-functional,” the report confirmed.
Despite knowing this, the pilot continued with the mission, departing at 6:22 p.m. to pick up passengers. The investigation found no discussion between the pilot and the flight follower about the faulty equipment or worsening weather.
“The pilot likely experienced spatial disorientation while manoeuvring the helicopter in IMC [instrument meteorological conditions], which led to his loss of helicopter control and the resulting collision with terrain,” the report stated.
