Super King Air 350
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine
Situational Awareness
Conflict NMAC
General None Reported / Taken
Airspace Structure; Procedure; Environment - Non Weather Related
We were departing Torrance; California in contact with SoCal departure. We were cleared direct to Seal Beach VOR and climbing through approximately 5;000 feet when I caught movement in my peripheral vision about the 10 O'Clock position. By the time I was able to look directly at the object; it passed approximately 30 to 50 feet off of our left wing tip. I initially thought it was a bird until the sun light reflected off the object; giving the appearance of a mirrored or metallic finish; the object was moving horizontally at a high rate of speed (much higher than a bird) leading to the conclusion that it was a small drone that we nearly missed colliding with. We reported the occurrence with ATC and continued the flight with no further issues.
PIC reported encountering a drone approaching SLI VOR.