What happened
A certificated commercial pilot was operating an aircraft carrying five passengers when attempting to depart from a remote beach location. During the takeoff roll, just prior to becoming airborne, the airplane's right wing made contact with a truck-mounted gantry that had been parked on the beach surface.
Despite this collision, the pilot elected to continue the flight rather than aborting or returning to the departure site. The aircraft subsequently traveled approximately 130 miles from the accident location before the pilot executed a precautionary landing at an alternative airport.
The investigation
Postaccident physical examination of the aircraft revealed significant structural damage to the airframe. Specifically, inspection confirmed that approximately twelve inches of the right wing had been severed during the impact with the gantry.