What happened
A commercial certificated pilot departed from a remote airport intended for a cross-country flight to his home base. During the initial departure phase, the pilot heard a loud bang, though he did not observe any object being struck. While flying in cruise flight, the pilot discovered damage to the leading edge of the right wing.
The pilot subsequently landed at an interim airport and contacted a company mechanic via telephone. Following a discussion with the mechanic, the pilot proceeded to his destination base.
The investigation
Company personnel initially believed the damage to the aircraft was the result of a bird strike. However, maintenance staff determined the damage was more than minor, necessitating a temporary patch before the aircraft could be ferried to a company maintenance facility for repairs.
During the repair process, maintenance personnel discovered wood splinters at the impact location on the right wing. Photographs provided by the pilot showed that the area just outboard of the lift strut exhibited vertical tearing and aft crushing of the leading edge material. An examination of the departure airport's runway environment identified trees measuring 25 to 30 feet in height located along both sides of the runway and near the end of the departure path.