Investigators Cite Pilot Spatial Disorientation and Company Negligence as Causes of Helicopter Crash That Killed Herbert Wigwe (Former CEO of Access Bank)

 

The United States National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has released its final investigation report regarding the tragic helicopter crash that claimed the lives of Herbert Wigwe, his wife Doreen, their son Chizi, and their family friend Abimbola Ogunbanjo. The crash, which occurred on February 9, 2024, near the California-Nevada border, was primarily attributed to pilot error and insufficient company oversight. The incident tragically resulted in the deaths of all six people on board.

NTSB Findings on the Cause of the Crash

The NTSB's investigation into the crash has concluded that the accident was the result of the pilot's decision to continue the flight under unsafe weather conditions, which ultimately led to spatial disorientation and loss of control. According to the final report, the pilot's decision to proceed with the flight despite deteriorating weather conditions was the key factor in the crash. Specifically, the report stated, "the pilot’s decision to continue the visual flight rules (VFR) flight into instrument meteorological conditions (IMC), which resulted in the pilot’s spatial disorientation and loss of control."

The helicopter, registered as N130CZ, crashed during a positioning flight on its way to pick up the passengers, with all six individuals on board perishing in the incident. The victims included Herbert Wigwe, the former group CEO of Access Holdings Plc; his wife Doreen; their son Chizi; and Abimbola Ogunbanjo, the former chairman of Nigerian Exchange Group Plc.

Pilot Error and Spatial Disorientation

The NTSB specifically identified spatial disorientation as a critical factor leading to the crash. The pilot, the report explained, was likely disoriented while maneuvering the helicopter in instrument meteorological conditions (IMC). The failure to regain control of the aircraft during these conditions resulted in a fatal collision with the terrain. As the NTSB detailed, "the pilot likely experienced spatial disorientation while maneuvering the helicopter in IMC, which led to his loss of helicopter control and the resulting collision with terrain."

Spatial disorientation occurs when a pilot is unable to accurately perceive the position of their aircraft in relation to the ground and other reference points, often exacerbated by poor visibility and bad weather conditions. In this case, the pilot’s inability to navigate safely in these conditions led directly to the fatal crash.

Inadequate Company Oversight and Safety Management

The investigation further revealed a disturbing lack of oversight by the helicopter operator, which contributed to the accident. The NTSB found that the company failed to enforce critical safety protocols that are necessary to ensure the safety of its flights. In particular, the operator's failure to ensure that flight risk analyses were being accurately completed, maintenance discrepancies were logged, and regulatory flight standards were being adhered to was cited as a contributing factor.

The report noted, "the company’s inadequate oversight of its safety management processes" was a significant issue. Specifically, the NTSB pointed out that the helicopter operator did not ensure pilots were adhering to important safety regulations or properly completing essential pre-flight safety checks.

Maintenance Issues and Communication Lapses

A key part of the NTSB’s findings involved lapses in maintenance communication that were critical in the lead-up to the crash. Prior to the accident, there were known issues with the helicopter’s radar altimeter. The pilot had communicated with the company’s Director of Maintenance (DOM) about the malfunction during the return flight. After the helicopter arrived at the company’s flight operations base, the pilot also spoke with the company’s president, who served as the flight follower.

The mechanic at the base performed some troubleshooting on the radar altimeter but was unable to fix the issue. Despite knowing that the radar altimeter was non-functional, the pilot and DOM made the decision to depart for the positioning flight at 18:22, which was ultimately to pick up the passengers.

The NTSB's report further revealed that, about 40 minutes later, the pilot landed at the airport to pick up the charter passengers. Following the landing, the pilot and flight follower engaged in a phone conversation and exchanged text messages, but they did not discuss the status of the radar altimeter or the weather conditions, both of which were crucial to the safety of the flight.

Conclusion: A Fatal Combination of Poor Judgment and Oversight Failures

The NTSB's final report ultimately concludes that the tragic helicopter crash was a result of poor judgment on the part of the pilot, who chose to continue the flight under worsening weather conditions, as well as the operator’s failure to maintain proper oversight of its safety management practices. The investigation points to both the pilot's inability to assess the risks of flying in deteriorating weather and the company's failure to enforce critical safety measures.

The loss of Herbert Wigwe, his wife, son, and Abimbola Ogunbanjo serves as a heartbreaking reminder of the importance of strict adherence to safety protocols, proper maintenance communication, and good judgment in aviation. The NTSB’s findings underscore the need for greater accountability and better management practices in the aviation industry to prevent such devastating incidents from occurring in the future.