The tragic helicopter crash on February 9, 2024, near the California-Nevada border that claimed the lives of former Access Holdings CEO Herbert Wigwe, his wife Doreen, their son Chizi, and three others, was caused by a combination of pilot error and the helicopter company’s safety failures, according to the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).
The NTSB’s final report reveals that the pilot chose to continue flying under visual flight rules (VFR) despite encountering worsening weather conditions that required instrument flight rules (IFR). This decision led to spatial disorientation-a condition where the pilot loses situational awareness due to limited visibility-resulting in loss of control and the fatal crash.
The helicopter, an Airbus EC130B4 registered N130CZ and operated by Orbic Air, LLC, crashed with six people on board, including two pilots, Wigwe, his family, and Abimbola Ogunbanjo, former chairman of the Nigerian Exchange Group Plc. The report also criticized the helicopter company for inadequate oversight of safety management, highlighting failures in flight risk assessments, maintenance documentation, and pre-flight safety checks. Notably, the radar altimeter was known to be malfunctioning but was not properly addressed before departure.
Herbert Wigwe was a highly respected banker and visionary leader who transformed Access Bank into one of Africa’s largest financial institutions. His death, alongside his family and close associates, is a significant loss to the Nigerian and African business communities.
The NTSB’s findings shows the critical importance of strict adherence to flight safety protocols and rigorous company oversight to prevent such tragedies in the future.
