The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) of the United States has officially linked the tragic helicopter crash that claimed the lives of Herbert Wigwe, former Group CEO of Access Holdings Plc, his wife Doreen, their son Chizi, and former Group Chairman of the Nigerian Exchange Group Plc, Abimbola Ogunbanjo, to pilot error and poor safety oversight.
In its final report released this week, the NTSB concluded that the crash, which occurred near the California-Nevada border on February 9, 2024, was primarily caused by the pilot’s spatial disorientation after continuing a visual flight into instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) — weather conditions requiring specialized instruments and procedures.
The ill-fated helicopter, a Eurocopter EC130T2 with the registration N130CZ, was being operated by a private charter company under visual flight rules (VFR) when it encountered weather conditions that demanded instrument flight rules (IFR) protocols. The pilot’s decision to proceed without the proper adjustments ultimately led to a loss of control, according to the NTSB.
“The pilot likely experienced spatial disorientation while maneuvering the helicopter in IMC, which led to his loss of helicopter control and the resulting collision with terrain,” the report stated.
Beyond the pilot’s error, the NTSB sharply criticised the helicopter charter company for what it described as “inadequate oversight of its safety management processes.” The investigation revealed that the company had allowed the helicopter to take off despite known issues with its radar altimeter — a critical instrument for low-altitude flights and terrain awareness.
In a troubling finding, investigators noted that the radar altimeter had been malfunctioning before the crash. The pilot had even sent text messages to the company’s Director of Maintenance highlighting the issue. A mechanic attempted to troubleshoot the fault, but the problem remained unresolved. Still, the helicopter was cleared for a positioning flight to pick up the passengers.
“The mechanic reported that the pilot and the DOM were aware that the radar altimeter was not functioning, yet they departed at 1822 on the positioning flight to pick up the passengers,” the report revealed.
It also found that after arriving to collect Wigwe and the other passengers, the pilot exchanged messages with the flight follower but did not discuss the weather or revisit the radar altimeter issue. This, according to NTSB investigators, was a breach of standard pre-flight safety protocols.
The accident has sparked renewed concerns about the enforcement of aviation safety standards, especially for private charter services, and has left many questioning how such a high-profile flight could proceed despite multiple warning signs.
The February 2024 crash sent shockwaves across Nigeria and the global financial community, especially given Wigwe’s prominent role in African banking and his deep involvement in philanthropic and educational initiatives.
Aged 57, Herbert Wigwe was widely seen as a transformative figure in Nigerian banking, having led Access Bank through a major expansion and played key roles in several industry-wide reforms. His untimely death, alongside his wife and son, left a deep void in the country’s corporate and philanthropic landscape.
Industry experts have called for stricter regulation and international collaboration on aviation oversight, especially for chartered flights involving high-risk weather areas.
With this final report, the NTSB has closed the investigation, but the implications of its findings may shape future safety policies in both the United States and Nigeria.
