Paul Smith dies in fatal plane crash off far south coast of NSW

Paul Smith dies in fatal plane crash off far south coast of NSW

Fatal plane crash death of Paul Smith off far south coast of NSW

Paul Smith, a 54-year-old pilot and chief instructor at a skydiving company, died when the aircraft he was piloting crashed off the far south coast of New South Wales on Saturday afternoon. The fatal incident occurred near George Bass Dr in Moruya, approximately two kilometers north of Moruya Airport.

Investigators have confirmed Mr. Smith was the sole occupant of the plane at the time of the accident. He had been involved in skydiving for nearly four decades, logging over 10,000 hours as a pilot in command. Mr. Smith, who tragically lost his life during the fatal plane crash, was recognized for his extensive contributions to the sport, receiving the Australian Parachute Federation’s highest honor – The Master of Sport Parachuting – last year.

The aircraft, configured for skydiving operations, experienced the fatal crash shortly after 2:00 PM local time. Authorities have established a crime scene to be examined by specialized officers. A report has been prepared for submission to the coroner’s office to investigate the fatal plane crash.

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau has initiated a safety investigation into the incident. A team of transport safety investigators from Canberra and Brisbane is traveling to the accident site. Their examination will include a drone-assisted site survey, wreckage analysis, and retrieval of aircraft components for further technical assessment at the ATSB’s facilities in Canberra.

The Bureau is encouraging anyone with video footage capturing the aircraft during its flight phases or immediately following the crash to submit it via their designated witness reporting form. The public is also urged to contact Crime Stoppers through their anonymous reporting line, 1800 333 000, if they possess any relevant information regarding the fatal plane crash.