Medium Transport; Low Wing; 2 Turboprop Eng
Flight Crew Commercial; Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Flight Instructor
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 50; Flight Crew Total 1300; Flight Crew Type 600
Distraction
Conflict NMAC
General None Reported / Taken
Aircraft; Human Factors; Procedure
During an aerial survey flight at approximately 16;500 feet the flight crew observed a drone pass 1 to 2 feet over the left wing tip of the aircraft. The drone was estimated 3 to 5 feet in diameter. It appeared to be a white color. It happened too quickly to describe the shape and dimensions with any degree of accuracy. Same goes for the direction of the craft. There would have been absolutely no chance of taking evasive action given how fast the event occurred. Same company has observed a drone at 15;500 [feet.] with a similar size and a near miss within 20 feet in the past.
A Pilot conducting an Aerial Survey mission reported a near miss with a unmanned aerial vehicle.