A preliminary report by the US National Transportation Safety Board has been released regarding the helicopter crash that resulted in the tragic death of Herbert Wigwe, the late Group Chief Executive Officer of Access Holdings Plc, along with his wife, son, and other business associates.
The report revealed that law enforcement and eyewitnesses saw the helicopter carrying Wigwe on fire before it crashed.
Witnesses also mentioned that the weather conditions in the area were poor, with rain and snow falling at the time of the crash.
According to the initial investigation report from the NTSB, witnesses confirmed that the weather on the day of the crash was a mix of rain and snow.
The board also noted that the helicopter’s Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) technology, which tracks aircraft positions, showed a sudden increase in ground speed before the crash.
“The accident flight departed Palm Springs International Airport (PSP) at 2045 under visual flight rules and flew a northwesterly heading for about 2 miles before following US Highway 111 to Interstate (I) 10 at altitudes varying between 2,500 – 3,000 ft mean sea level (msl),” the report read in part.
“The helicopter continued along I-10, crossed over San Bernadino International Airport, San Bernadino, California, and then followed I-215 to I-15.
“The helicopter followed I-15 toward the planned destination of Boulder City Municipal Airport (BVU), Boulder City, Nevada, climbed between 4,000 – 5,500 ft msl, then descended to about 3,500 ft msl near Barstow, California, where the ADS-B track data was lost about 2146, likely due to terrain interference.
