Incident Overview
A pilot reported that while attempting to land on a beach, he circled the area twice to assess wind conditions and the suitability of the landing zone. During the final stage of the landing flare, approximately two feet above the ground, a loud thump was heard from the right side of the airplane.
Immediate Actions
In response to the noise, the pilot initiated a go-around. During the climbout, he observed a dent in the outboard section of the right wing. He then elected to divert to King Salmon for landing.
Post-Landing Inspection
After landing at King Salmon, maintenance personnel discovered an eight-inch circular gash in the leading edge of the right wing, located in the area of the outboard spar. The damage was consistent with a collision with an object, but subsequent inspection of the beach area by company personnel failed to identify what the airplane had hit.
No Further Details
The report does not specify the aircraft type, registration, operator, date, or number of occupants. The weather conditions and time of day are also not described. The object that caused the damage remains unknown.