The United States National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has released its final report on the February 9, 2024, helicopter crash that claimed the lives of Nigerian banking executive Herbert Wigwe, his wife Doreen, their son Chizi, and his associate Abimbola Ogunbanjo, citing pilot error and inadequate oversight by the operating company as the primary causes.

According to the NTSB report, the tragedy occurred after the pilot chose to continue flying under Visual Flight Rules (VFR) into worsening weather conditions, known as Instrument Meteorological Conditions (IMC). This decision led to spatial disorientation a state where a pilot loses their sense of direction resulting in the loss of control and the fatal crash near the California-Nevada border. The helicopter, registered as N130CZ, went down with all six occupants on board.

“The pilot likely experienced spatial disorientation while maneuvering the helicopter in IMC, which led to his loss of control and the subsequent collision with terrain,” the report states.

The investigation also revealed systemic failures by the operating company. The NTSB found the company failed to enforce vital safety management procedures, including proper flight risk assessments, maintenance documentation, and compliance with federal aviation regulations under Part 135.

Critical maintenance issues were also identified. The pilot had reported a malfunctioning radar altimeter a device crucial for gauging altitude in poor visibility. The report noted that while the issue was communicated to the company’s director of maintenance and discussed with a company mechanic, it was not resolved prior to the flight. The mechanic confirmed that both the pilot and maintenance director were aware the radar altimeter remained inoperative when the helicopter took off to retrieve passengers.

“After arriving at the operations base, the pilot discussed the radar altimeter issue with the company flight follower, who also serves as the company president. Despite failed troubleshooting efforts, the flight proceeded,” the report said. The radar altimeter’s unresolved status was not discussed in a subsequent phone conversation and text exchange between the pilot and the flight follower, nor were the deteriorating weather conditions.

The NTSB concluded that a combination of poor in-flight decision-making and the operator's failure to uphold safety protocols played a significant role in the fatal outcome.

Herbert Wigwe was the former Group CEO of Access Holdings Plc, and Abimbola Ogunbanjo was the former Chairman of the Nigerian Exchange Group. The crash has since sparked calls for stricter oversight of chartered flight operators and reinforced the dangers of ignoring safety warnings in aviation.