Inadequate oversight of its safety management processes.
The United States National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has attributed the February 2024 helicopter crash that killed former Access Holdings CEO, Herbert Wigwe, his wife, son, and three others, to pilot error and poor safety oversight.
The final report, released Wednesday, stated 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.”
The crash occurred near the California-Nevada border on February 9, 2024. Investigators also faulted the helicopter company for “inadequate oversight of its safety management processes,” revealing that a critical radar altimeter was non-functional during the flight.
“A company mechanic performed some troubleshooting on the radar altimeter; however, he was unable to rectify the issue,” the report noted.
Despite awareness of the malfunction, the pilot proceeded with the flight. The NTSB found no evidence that weather conditions or equipment issues were discussed before takeoff.