A new report from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has revealed that pilot error and systemic safety oversight failures were responsible for the tragic helicopter crash that killed former Access Holdings CEO, Herbert Wigwe, his wife, son, and three others in February 2024.
Spatial Disorientation Led to Fatal Crash
According to the NTSB’s final findings released on Wednesday, the crash was primarily caused by the pilot’s decision to continue flying under visual flight rules (VFR) despite entering instrument meteorological conditions (IMC)—a situation that requires different flight protocols and equipment. This poor judgment resulted in spatial disorientation and loss of control, ultimately leading to the crash near the California-Nevada border on February 9, 2024.
“The probable cause of this accident was the pilot’s spatial disorientation after flying into weather conditions unsuitable for visual navigation,” the report stated.
Herbert Wigwe, Family, and Other Victims Named
The fatal crash claimed the lives of:
- Herbert Wigwe, former CEO of Access Holdings
- Doreen Wigwe, his wife
- Chizi Wigwe, their son
- Abimbola Ogunbanjo, former Chairman of the Nigerian Exchange Group
- Two crew members
The helicopter, registered as N130CZ, crashed while en route to collect passengers for a charter flight.
Helicopter Company Faulted for Lapses in Safety Protocol
The NTSB report also criticized the helicopter operator for “inadequate oversight of its safety management processes.” Investigators found that:
- The company failed to ensure pilots completed pre-flight risk assessments
- There were maintenance issues that were not properly addressed
- A key instrument, the radar altimeter, was non-functional before takeoff
Despite knowing the radar altimeter—a critical safety device—was faulty, the pilot and director of maintenance chose to proceed with the flight. The mechanic who inspected the issue reported being unable to fix it prior to departure.
“There was no recorded discussion between the pilot and flight operations regarding the faulty radar altimeter or the poor weather,” the NTSB added.
Wider Implications for Charter Aviation Safety
The findings have raised concerns about broader issues in charter flight safety management in the U.S. aviation industry, especially around enforcing protocol compliance and maintenance procedures.
The report has been forwarded to aviation oversight bodies to prompt stricter enforcement of risk mitigation strategies in charter flight operations.
