A report by the United States National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has confirmed that the helicopter crash that killed former Access Holdings boss Herbert Wigwe, his wife Doreen their son, Chizi and former NGX Group Chairman, Abimbola Ogunbanjo, was a fault from the pilot.
In its final report, the NTSB said the helicopter crash which occurred on 9th February 2024, near the California-Nevada border, was primarily caused by the pilot’s decision to continue flying under visual flight rules despite deteriorating weather and instrument meteorological conditions (IMC).
According to the report, Investigators concluded that the pilot likely suffered spatial disorientation while trying to maneuver in poor visibility, resulting in a loss of control and a fatal impact with the terrain.
The report also identified inadequate safety oversight by the helicopter operator as a contributing factor. Lapses included the failure to ensure proper completion of flight risk assessments, failure to log maintenance issues, and non-compliance with federal aviation regulations under Part 135.
“The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) determines the probable cause of this accident to be: 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,” a part of the report reads.
“Contributing to the accident was the company’s inadequate oversight of its safety management processes, including ensuring the pilots were accurately completing and updating the flight risk analysis, logging maintenance discrepancies, and ensuring the helicopter met Part 135 regulations before departure.
“During the return flight, the pilot texted the director of maintenance (DOM) about the issue. After arriving at the company’s flight operations base, the pilot discussed the issue with the company flight follower (who was also the company’s president).
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