In 1926 Norman began flying a Curtiss Jenny JN-4 aircraft, fitted with a 90hp OX engine, owned by his brother Geoffrey. Geoffrey was reportedly quite wealthy, owning a number of properties around Victoria. The aircraft was acquired so that Norman could ferry Geoffrey around between his properties.
At about 1.30pm on 1 Dec 1926 Norman and Geoffrey were returning to Essendon aerodrome from Geelong in this aircraft. It appears that the first attempt to land was misjudged and Norman opened the throttle to 'go around' for another approach. But the engine failed to develop enough power to climb away and the aircraft crashed into trees about a mile from the aerodrome. Geoffrey was fatally injured and died two days later in hospital; Norman escaped with only minor injuries.
The official investigation into the accident blamed pilot inexperience and overconfidence. Reviewing the evidence again in 2005, Macarthur Job, an experienced air accident investigator and author of a number of books on the subject, reached much the same conclusion. It was clear however, that the loss of engine power at a critical time, probably the result of carburettor icing, was a major contributing factor to the development of the accident.
Report of the accident in the Melbourne Argus 2nd December 1926