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The United States National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has released its final report on the tragic helicopter crash that claimed the lives of Herbert Wigwe, the former Group CEO of Access Holdings Plc, along with his family and others in February 2024.
According to the report published on May 5, 2025, the crash was primarily caused by pilot error. The pilot continued flying under visual flight rules (VFR) despite encountering weather conditions that required instrument flight rules (IFR). This led to the pilot’s spatial disorientation and ultimately the loss of control of the helicopter.
The accident occurred on February 9, 2024, near the California-Nevada border, resulting in the death of all six people aboard. Among the victims were Herbert Wigwe, his wife Doreen, their son Chizi, and Abimbola Ogunbanjo, the former Group Chairman of the Nigerian Exchange Group Plc.
The NTSB report also cited significant issues with the helicopter operator’s safety management system. Investigators found that the company failed to conduct proper pre-flight risk assessments and had inadequate maintenance documentation. Additionally, the company did not ensure compliance with necessary aviation regulations, which contributed to the crash.
“The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) determines the probable cause of this accident to be: 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,” the NTSB concluded.
The report further revealed that the pilot had communicated technical issues during the return flight, including texting the director of maintenance and discussing concerns with the company’s flight follower, highlighting ongoing concerns about the helicopter’s condition.
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