Report Finally Explains Real Cause of Hertbert Wigwe’s Helicopter Crash

• A report on the helicopter crash that killed Herbert Wigwe, his family, and others attributed the cause to the pilot's decision to continue the flight into poor weather conditions
• The investigation also highlighted the helicopter company's inadequate safety management processes, including failures in ensuring proper maintenance and risk analysis
• A key finding was that the helicopter's radar altimeter was malfunctioning, and despite being aware of the issue, the pilot and maintenance team proceeded with the flight

Legit.ng journalist Zainab Iwayemi has 5-year-experience covering the Economy, Technology, and Capital Market.

The full report from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) on the February 2024 helicopter crash that killed Herbert Wigwe, the former global chief executive officer of Access Holdings Plc, and his family members has been made public.

Abimbola Ogunbanjo, the former group chairman of Nigerian Exchange Group Plc, Wigwe, his wife Doreen, and their son Chizi were among the six individuals killed in the February 9, 2024, collision near the California-Nevada border.

According to the report, investigators determined 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.”

One of the contributing factors to the disaster, according to the NTSB report, was the helicopter company's "inadequate oversight of its safety management processes."

Investigators found that the company failed to ensure pilots followed the necessary procedures prior to departure, documented maintenance issues, and completed flight risk analysis correctly.

The report stated:

“The pilot likely experienced spatial disorientation while maneuvering the helicopter in IMC [instrument meteorological conditions], which led to his loss of helicopter control and the resulting collision with terrain.”

The investigation’s key discovery was that the helicopter's radar altimeter wasn’t working before the tragic flight. According to the investigation, the pilot had texted the maintenance director about a problem with this crucial instrument during a previous trip.

“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 report noted.

“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.”

Additionally, the investigation discovered that the pilot and flight following exchanged communications after arriving to pick up the charter passengers, but "did not discuss the status of the radar altimeter or weather conditions."

Operating under visual flight rules in what eventually turned out to be instrument meteorological conditions, the N130CZ helicopter crashed, necessitating the use of alternative flight procedures and instrumentation.

Who was Herbert Wigwe?

Wigwe's unfortunate death shook not only the Nigerian banking industry, but the entire Nigeria. Here are, however, some important things to know about the banking industry giant.

Wigwe was born on August 15, 1966, in Ibadan, Oyo State, making him 58 years old at the time of his passing.

He earned a Bachelor's degree in Accountancy from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State. Wigwe began his career as a management consultant at Coopers & Lybrand in Lagos.

In addition to his early career, he also earned an MA in Banking and Finance from the University College of North Wales (now Bangor University) and an MSc in Financial Economics from the University of London.

Wigwe was an exceptional Nigerian banker and businessman whose career was characterised by his crucial contribution to the purchase and quick expansion of Access Bank.

In 2002, Wigwe and his business partner Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede made a daring move by purchasing Access Bank, a small commercial bank at the time, following more than ten years at Guaranty Trust Bank.

From January 2014 to April 2022, Wigwe served as the Group Managing Director/CEO of Access Bank PLC.

His exceptional leadership earned him the title of Banker of the Year in 2016, awarded by both Vanguard and The Sun newspapers.

Furthermore, Wigwe was named African Banker of the Year during the 2021 African Banker Awards.

In recognition of his significant contributions, former President Muhammadu Buhari honoured him with the National Honour of Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON) in October 2022.

Court gives verdict on Wigwe's estate

Meanwhile, Legit.ng earlier reported that the Lagos State High Court Family/Probate Court in Ikeja has dismissed the suit filed by Pastor Shyngle Wigwe (Herbert Wigwe’s father) and Christian Wigwe (Wigwe’s cousin), where they sought the appointment of interim administrators for the estate of the late Herbert Wigwe.

Justice A.O. Adeyemi of the state High Court, in his judgment on Thursday, February 6, resolved all the issues the applicants have raised and ruled that the claim on the appointment of an interim administrator on Wigwe's estate was unsustainable.

The suit number ID/7735FPM/2024 was filed by Pastor Shyngle Wigwe and Christian Wigwe against Access Bank Plc, Coronation Merchant Bank Ltd, and United Securities Ltd.

The article was updated with additional information by the head of the business desk, Victor Enengedi.

Source: Legit.ng