Pilot error, faulty equipment blamed for Wigwe’s helicopter crash — US board
By Jeffrey Agbo
The United States National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) on Wednesday concluded that the helicopter crash that killed former Access Holdings CEO Herbert Wigwe, his wife Doreen, their son Chizi, and former Nigerian Exchange Group Chairman Abimbola Ogunbanjo was caused by the pilot’s decision to continue flying under visual flight rules (VFR) despite deteriorating weather conditions.
According to the NTSB’s final report on the February 2024 crash near the California-Nevada border, the helicopter—registered as N130CZ—entered instrument meteorological conditions (IMC), which led to the pilot’s spatial disorientation and loss of control of the aircraft.
The report emphasised that the pilot’s inability to effectively navigate under IMC contributed significantly to the fatal accident.
Investigators also discovered that the helicopter’s radar altimeter, a critical flight instrument, was non-functional prior to the crash. The pilot had texted the maintenance director about the issue during an earlier flight, and although a company mechanic attempted to troubleshoot the problem, it remained unresolved.
The report stated: “A company mechanic performed some troubleshooting on the radar altimeter; however, he was unable to rectify the issue, and the radar altimeter remained non-functional.
“The mechanic reported that the pilot and the DOM [director of maintenance] were aware that the radar altimeter was not functioning, yet they departed at 1822 on the positioning flight to pick up the passengers.”
Further findings revealed that after collecting the passengers, the pilot and the flight follower exchanged messages, but did not discuss the faulty altimeter or the worsening weather conditions.
 on Wednesday concluded that the helicopter crash that killed former Access Holdings CEO Herbert Wigwe,){kind=link}