Australian pilot killed after skydiving aircraft crashes off coast

Eight skydivers had jumped from a aircraft two minutes earlier than it crashed off the New South Wales coast, killing the pilot.

Paul Smith, 54, died when a skydiving aircraft he was piloting crashed in Moruya about 1.2 miles from the airport shortly after 2 p.m. on Saturday.

NSW Police Inspector Justin Marks advised reporters the skydivers safely jumped from the aircraft at about 14,000 ft simply two minutes earlier than it crashed.

“The plane has come to relaxation in thick bushland adjoining to George Bass Drive, whereas the wing has come to a relaxation on George Bass Drive itself,” he mentioned.

Paul Smith, a man wearing a blue cap and shirt, smiles for a selfie in front of a yellow and orange plane with its engine exposed. — Paul Smith died when his aircraft crashed close to the southern NSW coast on Saturday. NSW Police

Smith was a former skydiving firm proprietor who had been skydiving for nearly 40 years, with greater than 10,000 hours logged as a pilot in command.

Late final yr he was awarded the Australian Parachute Federation’s highest award – The Grasp of Sport Parachuting – for his contributions to the game since he began in 1987, aged simply 16.

Smith, the pilot, was lifeless on the scene.

He was the one individual on-board the aircraft on the time of the crash.

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“A criminal offense scene has been established and can be examined by specialist officers,” police mentioned in an announcement.

A report can be ready for the coroner.

The Australian Transport Security Bureau has commenced a security investigation into the accident.

“The ATSB is deploying a crew of transport security investigators from its Canberra and Brisbane workplaces, specializing in plane operations, upkeep and engineering, to the accident web site,” the Bureau mentioned in an announcement.

“Investigators will conduct a spread of evidence-gathering actions together with web site survey with a drone, wreckage examination, and restoration of any plane elements for additional examination on the ATSB’s technical services in Canberra.”

Paul Smith, who died in a plane crash, stands in front of a yellow and orange plane in a hangar. — The Australian Transport Security Bureau has commenced a security investigation into the accident. Instagram/Australian Parachute Federation

Chief commissioner Angus Mitchell advised media it was too early to know if there have been any issues within the air, however witnesses heard uncommon sounds and flight patterns within the closing moments.

Mitchell mentioned the single-engine Pilatus Porter aircraft had solely been working in Australia for a month.

“It was constructed round 1980 in Switzerland and had been introduced over from New Zealand,” he mentioned.

“We do know there was a reasonably substantive upkeep examine carried out previous to bringing it to Australia.

“It had carried out plenty of jumps over the previous week and a half.”

The ATSB is asking anybody with video footage of the plane “at any section of the flight, or within the rapid aftermath of the accident” to make contact through the witness type on their web site.

Anybody with info is urged to contact Crime Stoppers at 1800-333-000.