A man who died in a plane crash on the New South Wales south coast has been identified as beloved and highly-qualified skydiving chief instructor Paul Smith.
The 54-year-old pilot was returning to Moruya Airport after conducting a skydiving drop on Saturday when his light plane crashed into bushland about 2 kilometres shy of its destination.
The Australian Parachute Federation (APF) has paid tribute to Mr Smith, a “respected member” of the skydiving community who won the organisation’s highest honour last year in recognition of nearly four decades of industry experience.
“We are deeply saddened by this news,” CEO Stephen Porter said.
“This is a tragedy for his family, friends and the general skydiving community.”
Paul Smith used to trial jump parachutes for the Australian peak body. (Supplied: Australian Parachute Federation)
Mr Smith discovered his love of skydiving at just 16 years old, according to the not-for-profit, and became both an instructor and competitive jumper within five years.
He worked for Parachutes Australia as a test jumper in the early 1990s and went on to operate his own training facility in the Central West town of Trangie before relocating to Moruya and opening what is now known as SKYONE.
APF also said Mr Smith’s flying experience was extensive, having logged more than 10,000 hours as a pilot-in-command, mostly flying skydivers.
“Paul was awarded the Master of Sport Parachuting in December 2024 for his positive and lasting contribution over many years,” Mr Porter said.
“An award like that only comes around once a blue moon.”
Paul Smith was awarded the Master of Sport Parachuting by APF board chairman Trevor Collins in December 2024. (Supplied: Australian Parachute Federation)
Investigator survey crash site
Police say the eight skydivers Mr Smith dropped off had landed safely before the crash.
Meanwhile, transport safety investigators have arrived at the crash site, where they will examine flight tracking data as well as maintenance records of the single-engine Pilatus Porter Mr Smith was operating.
The plane crashed in bushland in Moruya, on the NSW south coast, on its return from dropping eight skydivers. (ABC South East NSW: James Tugwell)
South Coast Police and the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) are expected to provide an update from Batesman Bay Police Station on Sunday afternoon.
The ATSB is appealing to anyone with video footage of the plane “at any phase of the flight, or in the immediate aftermath of the accident”, to contact them using the witness form on its website.