Eight skydivers safely jumped from a plane just two minutes before it crashed, killing pilot Paul Smith near Moruya Airport on Saturday. The 54-year-old chief instructor was returning from a skydiving drop when his light plane went down in bushland about two kilometers from the airport.
NSW Police Inspector Justin Marks confirmed the skydivers had launched from approximately 14,000 feet. The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) and police are investigating the crash, examining weather data, flight tracking records, and witness accounts.
Smith, a highly experienced pilot with over 20,000 flight hours, was described by the Australian Parachute Federation (APF) as a respected member of the skydiving community. He began skydiving at age 16 and later operated his own training facility, SKYONE, in Moruya.
The single-engine Pilatus Porter, built in 1980 and recently imported from New Zealand, had undergone substantial maintenance before arriving in Australia about a month ago. Witnesses reported hearing unusual sounds and observing an irregular flight pattern before the crash.
ATSB Chief Commissioner Angus Mitchell said the investigation is in its early stages, with no timeline for determining the cause. The plane's wing came to rest on George Bass Drive, while the fuselage landed in thick bushland.
