The 54-year-old man killed when a skydiving plane crashed off the far south coast of NSW yesterday has been identified as a beloved member of the skydiving community and chief instructor Paul Smith.

The former skydiving company owner had been skydiving for almost 40 years, with more than 10,000 hours logged as a pilot in command.

Late last year he was awarded the Australian Parachute Federation’s highest award – The Master of Sport Parachuting – for his contributions to the sport since he started in 1987, aged just 16.

The plane, which was designed for skydiving, crashed west of George Bass Dr in Moruya, about 2km north of Moruya Airport, shortly after 2pm Saturday.

Mr Smith, the pilot, was declared dead at the scene.

He was the only person on-board the plane at the time of the crash.

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