Overview

• Police said the Pilatus Porter crashed into bushland about 2 kilometres north of Moruya Airport shortly after 2pm on September 27.
• Paul “Poo” Smith, 54, was the sole occupant and died at the scene; the Australian Parachute Federation praised the highly experienced instructor and pilot.
• Eight skydivers had exited around 14,000 feet and landed safely, with police indicating the crash occurred roughly two minutes after the jump.
• ATSB investigators from Canberra and Brisbane are surveying the site, examining wreckage, and collecting flight tracking, weather, and maintenance records.
• ATSB noted the aircraft was built around 1980 and recently imported after a substantive maintenance check, and it is appealing for video as a preliminary report is expected within about eight weeks.