By Bosun Obafemi
The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has concluded that the February 2024 helicopter crash that killed Herbert Wigwe, former Group CEO of Access Holdings Plc, along with five others, was the result of critical pilot error and systemic failures in operator safety oversight.
In its final report released this month, the NTSB attributed the crash to the pilot’s decision to proceed under Visual Flight Rules (VFR) into deteriorating weather conditions that warranted Instrument Meteorological Conditions (IMC). This misjudgment led to spatial disorientation and a subsequent loss of control, causing the Airbus EC130B4 helicopter (tail number N130CZ) to crash near the California-Nevada border.
The tragic accident claimed the lives of Wigwe; his wife, Doreen; their son, Chizi; and Abimbola Ogunbanjo, the former Chairman of the Nigerian Exchange Group (NGX), along with the pilot and co-pilot.
The aircraft was operated by Orbic Air LLC under Part 135 on-demand charter regulations.
Operator Failures Cited
Beyond the pilot’s decision-making, the NTSB report identified significant lapses in Orbic Air’s safety management practices, including:
• Failure to properly complete and update pre-flight risk assessments
• Inadequate maintenance logging
• Violations of Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) operational requirements
A malfunctioning radar altimeter, a critical instrument for maintaining altitude awareness in poor visibility, was highlighted as a key contributing factor. The pilot had flagged the altimeter issue to both the company’s Director of Maintenance and the flight follower — who also served as Orbic Air’s president. Despite knowledge of the defect, the aircraft was dispatched.
While a mechanic attempted to repair the altimeter prior to the flight, the issue remained unresolved. Investigators found that although the pilot and flight follower exchanged messages and had a phone call after the failed repair attempt, they did not discuss the altimeter’s status or prevailing weather conditions.
Additionally, during a delay in departure — caused by a passenger’s misplaced passport — both pilots were observed using their phones, but there was no evidence they reviewed updated weather information or reassessed the flight risk before takeoff.
Final Determination
In its formal conclusion, the NTSB stated:
“The probable cause of this accident was the pilot’s decision to continue VFR flight into IMC, resulting in spatial disorientation and loss of control. Contributing to the accident was the operator’s inadequate oversight of safety management processes.”
The findings have reignited calls for stricter regulatory enforcement and more rigorous adherence to flight safety protocols in the on-demand charter sector.
