The United States’ National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has concluded that spatial disorientation and inadequate operational oversight were key factors in the helicopter crash that killed former Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of Access Holdings Plc, Herbert Wigwe, along with his wife, son, and three others in February 2024.

According to the final investigation report, obtained by Channels Television, the crash occurred after the pilot continued to fly under Visual Flight Rules (VFR) despite entering Instrument Meteorological Conditions (IMC), which led to spatial disorientation and loss of control.

The NTSB also faulted the helicopter operator for poor safety oversight. The company reportedly failed to enforce essential procedures, including proper risk analysis updates, logging of maintenance issues, and ensuring the aircraft met US Part 135 airworthiness requirements prior to take-off.

RELATED STORY: One-Year Remembrance: Tinubu, Others, Eulogise Wigwe

Wigwe, his wife Doreen, their son Chizi, and Abimbola Ogunbanjo, a former Group Chairman of the Nigerian Exchange Group (NGX), were among six individuals who died when the helicopter (registration N130CZ) crashed near the California-Nevada border.

The investigation revealed that on the return leg of the journey, the pilot had texted the Director of Maintenance (DOM) about a malfunctioning radar altimeter. After landing at the company’s operations base, the pilot discussed the issue with the company’s flight follower—who also served as president and held operational control of the charter flight.

The flight follower told the pilot that the aircraft could not depart without a functioning radar altimeter. A company mechanic attempted troubleshooting but was unable to fix the fault. Despite being aware of the issue, the pilots proceeded with a positioning flight at 18:22 to pick up the passengers.

Roughly 40 minutes later, they arrived at the departure airport, where the flight was delayed by 50 minutes due to a passenger misplacing their passport. Surveillance footage showed the pilots using their mobile phones in the terminal lobby during the wait, but it remains unclear whether they reviewed weather conditions.

Additionally, the pilot failed to update the Flight Risk Assessment (FRA), which was accessible online, before departure. There was no evidence the radar altimeter resumed functioning prior to the crash.