By Fresh Facts Magazine Investigative Desk-
The fatal helicopter crash that tragically ended the lives of Herbert Wigwe, his wife Doreen, their son Chizi, and business associate Abimbola Ogunbanjo, was the result of a series of human and systemic failures, according to the final report released by the United States National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).
Wigwe, the former Group Chief Executive Officer of Access Holdings Plc, along with his family and Ogunbanjo, former Chairman of Nigerian Exchange Group Plc, were among the six people who died when their helicopter went down near the California-Nevada border on February 9, 2024.
In its damning conclusion, the NTSB cited pilot spatial disorientation and negligence on the part of the operating company as the key causes of the crash.
A Fatal Decision in Treacherous Skies
According to the report, the pilot chose to continue flying under visual flight rules (VFR) despite entering weather conditions that required instrument-based navigation—a critical error in aviation. “The pilot’s decision to continue the visual flight rules flight into instrument meteorological conditions resulted in spatial disorientation and loss of control,” the report stated.
In essence, the pilot lost his sense of direction in the dense, low-visibility weather—a phenomenon known as spatial disorientation—leading to a tragic loss of control that sent the aircraft hurtling into the terrain.
Oversight Failures and Maintenance Gaps
The NTSB report did not stop at pilot error. It also pointed fingers at the helicopter’s operator, slamming the company for “inadequate oversight of its safety management processes.”
Among the company’s lapses:
- Pilots were not properly completing flight risk assessments.
- Maintenance discrepancies were not being thoroughly logged.
- Regulatory procedures under Part 135 flight operations were not consistently followed.
Even more troubling, the aircraft involved—registered as N130CZ—had known technical issues before the crash. The radar altimeter, a crucial device for determining altitude above ground level, was malfunctioning. The pilot had flagged this issue via text to the company’s director of maintenance and discussed it with the company president, who also served as the flight operations coordinator.
Although a mechanic attempted to fix the problem, the issue remained unresolved—and the helicopter continued flying with a defective altimeter, which may have compounded the disorientation that led to the crash.
The Human Cost
The tragedy shocked Nigeria’s business and financial sectors, robbing the nation of two high-profile executives and members of their families. Wigwe was not only a towering figure in banking but also a philanthropist and thought leader. Ogunbanjo had earned respect for his tenure at the helm of the Nigerian Exchange.
Their deaths, along with those of Doreen and Chizi Wigwe, left a deep wound in the hearts of many—both in Nigeria and abroad.
A Wake-Up Call
The NTSB’s findings serve as a sobering reminder of the high stakes of aviation safety, especially in corporate and private flight operations. Poor judgment, technical negligence, and lax oversight can combine into a lethal mix—with irreversible consequences.
For the families left behind, and for a nation still reeling from the loss, the report delivers clarity—but also a call for accountability and reform in air travel safety standards.
