Final NTSB report cites spatial disorientation, weather misjudgment, and regulatory lapses as causes of fatal 2024 helicopter crash that claimed six lives, including Access Holdings CEO Herbert Wigwe.
The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has concluded its investigation into the helicopter crash that claimed the lives of Herbert Wigwe, former Group Chief Executive Officer of Access Holdings Plc, his wife Doreen, their son Chizi, and Abimbola Ogunbanjo, former Group Chairman of the Nigerian Exchange Group (NGX).
The fatal crash occurred on February 9, 2024, near the California-Nevada border, involving a helicopter with registration number N130CZ. All six occupants on board were killed.
According to the final report obtained by TheCable, the NTSB determined that the probable cause of the crash was the pilot’s decision to proceed under Visual Flight Rules (VFR) into deteriorating weather conditions, resulting in Instrument Meteorological Conditions (IMC). The pilot likely experienced spatial disorientation, which caused a loss of control and ultimately led to the collision with terrain.
The report further identified systemic safety failures by the helicopter company as a contributing factor. The NTSB found the company failed to:
Ensure pilots properly completed and updated the flight risk assessment,
Document and resolve maintenance discrepancies,
Comply with Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Part 135 operational regulations.
Notably, the pilot had previously communicated concerns about a malfunctioning radar altimeter to the Director of Maintenance (DOM) via text. Although some troubleshooting was attempted by a company mechanic, the issue was unresolved at the time of the flight.
Despite knowing the radar altimeter was non-functional, the pilot proceeded with the positioning flight to pick up the passengers. No further communication about the faulty equipment or poor weather conditions was documented between the pilot and the company’s flight operations team prior to takeoff.
“The pilot’s decision to continue the VFR flight into IMC, resulting in spatial disorientation and loss of control, was the primary cause of the accident,” the report states. “Contributing factors included the company’s inadequate oversight of safety management practices and failure to ensure compliance with regulatory standards.”
The tragic incident has prompted renewed calls for tighter oversight of private aviation operators and stricter adherence to safety protocols, especially under adverse weather conditions.