- The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has released its final report on the February 2024 helicopter crash that resulted in the deaths of Herbert Wigwe, Doreen, Chizi, and three others.
- The February 9, 2024, accident occurred due to the pilot’s decision to fly under visual flight rules despite entering instrument meteorological conditions, causing spatial disorientation and loss of control.
- The crash claimed the lives of all six passengers, including Abimbola Ogunbanjo, former chairman of the Nigerian Exchange Group.
The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has issued its final findings on the helicopter crash that occurred on February 9, 2024, near the California-Nevada border, resulting in the deaths of former Access Holdings CEO Herbert Wigwe, his wife Doreen, their son Chizi, and three others.
The report concluded that the crash was primarily caused by the pilot’s decision to continue flying under visual flight rules (VFR), even after entering conditions that required instrument navigation (IMC). This led to spatial disorientation, causing the pilot to lose control of the aircraft, which ultimately crashed into the terrain.
Among the six victims was Abimbola Ogunbanjo, the former chairman of the Nigerian Exchange Group.
The NTSB also criticized the helicopter operator for poor safety practices, including failing to conduct adequate pre-flight risk assessments, neglecting to log maintenance issues properly, and not complying with regulatory requirements. One key failure involved a faulty radar altimeter—a device critical for altitude awareness—which had not been repaired prior to the flight.
Although the helicopter’s mechanic had flagged the issue and attempted repairs, the altimeter remained inoperative. The pilot and the Director of Maintenance were reportedly aware of the problem but still went ahead with the flight.
The NTSB noted, “The pilot likely experienced spatial disorientation while maneuvering the helicopter in IMC [instrument meteorological conditions], which led to his loss of helicopter control and the resulting collision with terrain.”
The investigation further revealed that there was no documented discussion between the pilot and the flight follower about the weather conditions or the unresolved equipment issue before departure, underscoring a breakdown in communication and safety protocol.
“The mechanic reported that the pilot and the Director of Maintenance (DOM) were aware the radar altimeter was not functioning, yet they departed at 1822 on the positioning flight to pick up the passengers,” the NTSB said.
“The investigation further found that after arriving to collect the charter passengers, the pilot and flight follower exchanged messages but “did not discuss the status of the radar altimeter or weather conditions,” the board added.
