What happened
The aircraft collided with an object in flight. The pilot reported that his right wing was struck by what he initially believed to be a large bird. Following the incident, the pilot proceeded to land safely at the nearby Long Beach Airport.
The investigation
Upon arrival at Long Beach Airport, the aircraft was examined for damage. Inspectors found a hole located aft of the leading edge on the right wing, along with numerous scrape marks on the underside. Despite the initial suspicion of a bird strike, there was no evidence of bird remains found at the site of impact.
Findings
The physical evidence indicated that the damage was caused by a metallic object rather than wildlife. The presence of scrape marks and the specific nature of the hole suggested an interaction with hard material consistent with metal debris or another aircraft component.