By Ameenat Hamzat, Lagos, Nigeria
The United States National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has concluded that pilot error, aggravated by poor company oversight and faulty equipment, caused the February 2024 helicopter crash that killed former Access Holdings CEO Herbert Wigwe, his wife Doreen, their son Chizi, and three others.
According to the final accident report released Wednesday, the helicopter’s pilot continued flying under visual flight rules despite entering instrument meteorological conditions near the California-Nevada border, which led to spatial disorientation and loss of control.
The crash, which occurred on February 9, 2024, also claimed the life of Abimbola Ogunbanjo, former group chairman of Nigerian Exchange Group Plc. All six people onboard the Airbus EC130 helicopter, registered as N130CZ, perished in the accident.
The NTSB identified multiple safety failures. Notably, the helicopter’s radar altimeter, vital instrument for altitude awareness non-functional at the time of the flight. Though the pilot was aware of the malfunction and had informed a company mechanic, the issue remained unresolved. Nevertheless, the flight departed as scheduled.
The NTSB report stated: “The pilot likely experienced spatial disorientation while manoeuvring the helicopter in IMC, which led to his loss of helicopter control and the resulting collision with terrain.”
The board also faulted the helicopter company for failing to enforce proper pre-flight safety protocols, including risk analysis, maintenance tracking, and weather assessment procedures.
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