The fatal helicopter crash that occurred in February 2024 — claiming the lives of former Access Holdings CEO Herbert Wigwe, along with his wife, son, and three other individuals — was the result of critical misjudgment by the pilot, the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has concluded.
In its final findings released on Wednesday, the agency revealed that the pilot, navigating under visual flight rules (VFR), continued into deteriorating weather that required reliance on instruments — a move that led to spatial disorientation and ultimately, the tragic loss of control.
“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,” was cited as the probable cause of the crash.
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The report also placed significant blame on the helicopter company, criticizing its safety oversight.
It stated the operator had demonstrated “inadequate oversight of its safety management processes,” particularly regarding flight risk assessments, maintenance issue documentation, and pre-departure compliance with aviation regulations.
The crash occurred near the California-Nevada border on February 9, 2024.
All six occupants of the helicopter, registered as N130CZ, died in the incident.
Alongside Wigwe, the victims included his wife Doreen, their son Chizi, and Abimbola Ogunbanjo, former group chairman of the Nigerian Exchange Group Plc.
Investigators believed that the pilot lost control of the aircraft after becoming disoriented in poor weather conditions that required instrument-based navigation. Due to limited visibility, he likely struggled to maintain spatial awareness, which led to the helicopter’s fatal descent.
The report concluded that the evidence suggested the pilot had experienced spatial disorientation while flying in instrument meteorological conditions, which ultimately caused the crash.