The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) is investigating the cause of yesterday's fatal plane crash into the ocean off Sydney's northern beaches.
The plane was found in water off Turimetta Beach, between Warriewood and Narrabeen.
CASA says the pilot was performing acrobatic stunts in a Nanchang, a 1950s Chinese aeroplane which was registered in Australia just five months ago.
The aircraft is mostly used by the Chinese Army as a military training plane.
CASA considers it a dangerous plane and only allows manoeuvres to be performed above the ocean or in remote areas.
The 54-year-old pilot was the only person on board.
Police divers found his body about 70 metres from the wreckage several hours after the crash.
The plane's daring manoeuvres caught the attention of many people at a nearby rugby oval.
Luke Cullen, 15, was watching the plane's last barrel roll.
"It did a really low one and everyone sort of looked and took notice of it," he said.
"It just turned around and went to do another one down toward the ocean and it went down really low and just hit the water and there was a bang."
Another witness described the plane's descent into the water:"It was flying along quite fine and then just seemed to turn on its side, and then it just went straight down."