TRAGIC DEATH

Wairarapa Daily Times, 25 May 1936, Page 5

TRAGIC DEATH

W. M. O’HARA LOSES LIFE CRASH AFTER TAKING- OFF. ?ress Association Electric Teleem Dh— Convriab SYDNEY, Sunday. News was received at Sydney, this afternoon of the tragic death of the aviator, Mr W. M. .0 ’Kara, who crashed shortly after taking off at Eumengerie, 315 miles west of Sydney. Mr O’Hara has - been staying with Mr R. E. Boyce, a son of Mr Justice Boyce, 40 miles from Dub,bo. His Klemm Eagle ’plane was parked a mile away in a- paddock, whither he motored this morning with a party of friends, including the wife- of Mr Justice Boyce. Mr O’Hara took off for Dubbo, where he intended to pick up a hat and continue on to Cootamundra-, intending to lunch with a fellow-airman, Mr Butler. His machine rose to 200 feet, circled, and Mr O’Hara waved farewell. He banked sharply and immediately nose-dived to earth. The planeburst into flames. Mr O’Hara was thrown four feet from the machine,"'but not out of reach of the flames. He soon became a human torch. His friends were unable to approach owing to the heat, but finally dragged him away with the branch of a tree. An examination of the body revealed many bones were broken and injuriesto the head, which in themselves, it is thought, proved fatal. The body, which is terribly burned, will be brought t.o Sydney to await relatives instructions in regard to burial,,.. '■ CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT, » (Received Monday, 10.5 a.m.) .... , , SYDNEY, This Day. The engine stalling is believed to be the cause of the plane taking a nosedive. The machine was completely destroyed, even the aluminium parts of the engine being reduced to smalt heaps" of powder resembling powdered chalk. A number of lantern views of New Zealand scenes were found 1 about 15 feet from the wreckage. ‘ =

“Pat” O’Hara flew the Tasman solo last October in a Kleinm 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 ma : chine in each centre and devoting the proceeds to the relief funds of the R.S.A.