A man who died in a plane crash has been identified as a beloved member of the skydiving community, 54-year-old pilot, former skydiving company owner and chief instructor Paul “Poo” Smith.

Smith died on Saturday after the light plane he was flying crashed near Moruya Airport on NSW’s South Coast, shortly after 2pm.

Emergency services were called to bushland west of George Bass Drive, Moruya, about 305 kilometres south of Sydney, following reports of a small plane crash.

According to the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB), the aircraft was returning to Moruya Airport after conducting a skydiving drop when it crashed. The pilot, the sole occupant on board, was fatally injured and died at the scene. Witnesses identified him and police said the family had been notified.

The ATSB is

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