O’HARA’S DEATH

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 123, 26 May 1936, Page 7

O’HARA’S DEATH

CAUSE OF ACCIDENT SYDNEY, May 25. The engine stalling is beliveed to be the cause of O’Hara’s ’plane taking a nose-dive. The machine was completely destroyed, even the aluminium parts of the engine being reduced to small heaps of powdered chalk. A number of lantern views of New Zealand scenes were found about 15 feet from the wreckage. The Air Inevstigation Committee has sent a special representative to the scene. “Pat’’ O'Hara flew the Tasman solo last October in a Klemm Eagle monoplane, and later made a tour of New Zealand in the interests of the N.Z.R.S.A., giving “joy rides” in his machine in each centre and devoting the proceeds to the relief of the R.S.A. He was formerly a farmer at Wharepoa, Thames Valley, and enlisted as a private in the Third Battalion of the New Zealand Rifle Brigade, attaining the rank of second lieutenant and later he was with the Machine Gun Corps. He went to Java after the war because his health was not good in New Zealand, and obtained a position on a rubber plantation, later becoming niauager of an estate controlled fram England. He also had experience on sugar and coffee plantations in the East. In 1925 he visited New Zealand, suffcri’ig fram malaria, and spent a J-ar - c ' cuperating in Australia. He returned to the plantations and began to acquire interests in properties controlled by syndicates. He attained a position of considerable standing, illustrated by the fact that he was commissioned by the Administrator of the mandated territory of New Guinea to report ci td-? possibilities of growing rubber, coffee, and tea instead of coconuts on properties formerly owned by Germans. In Java he also achieved some distinction as a mountaineer. He flew from Australia to New Zealand because he considered it the cheapest and easiest way of making the journey, but surrounded the flight with considerable secrecy before s-l--ting off, because he did not wi’li to worry his mother by imposing on her the strain of wailing for news iri ic he was over the ocean. Howeve", his identity was divulged the day bo ore he took off. He was the eldest son of Mrs. M. O’Hara, of Warkwor*h, Aucklan 1, and the late Mr. Patrick O’Hara was 37 and unmarried. He was a quiet and likeable personality, and a careful and competent pilot and navigator. His machine was overhauled before ne set out from Sydney on what was intended to be. a flight via Melbourne, Aljivdo. Perth, Derby, and Darwin to his home in Dampit, Java. FUNERAL ARRANGEMENTS BURIAL IN NEW ZEALAND I Received May 25. 11 p.m. SYDNEY, May 25. Graceful tributes to Mr O’Hara are paid by leading airmen in Sydney, among whom is the Sun's aviation writer, who described him as a most likeable, friendly airman, ever ready to do a good turn, incapable of ill-will and alwavs genial. “Everyone at Mascot liked" him. Probably this friendliness led to his undoing. He would have leaned away from the instrument board, waving out as he climbed. His air speed would slip back and before he was aware of it the ’plane would have come to a critical stalling angle, where there would be no longer sufficient flying speed for a lift when the aileron control goes and the machine falls. He would struggle to flatten out but withal would be too near the ground to regain control. Then the crash ” The Union Bank and the Shell Company are handling arrangements on behalf of Mr O’Hara’s relatives in New Zealand. It is expected that the body will be taken to New Zealand for burial.