C-172 pilot not flying reported encountering an near midair collision event during cruise while on f...

Attributes
ACN	1758173
Time
Date	202008
Local Time Of Day	0601-1200
Place
Locale Reference	ZZZ.Airport
State Reference	US
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	Cruise
Route In Use	Direct
Flight Plan	None
Aircraft 2
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	Cruise
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Function	Pilot Not Flying First Officer
Qualification	Flight Crew Private
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 36 Flight Crew Total 87 Flight Crew Type 47
Events
Anomaly	ATC Issue All Types Conflict NMAC Deviation - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Miss Distance	Horizontal 300 Vertical 300

Narrative:

Basically another pilot and I were flying to ZZZ. We were on flight following which we picked up after departing the ZZZ1 sfr. There was a commotion we overheard on the radio with a possible gear up landing of [some aircraft]. I don't know if this 'excitement' contributed to the workload of the TRACON controller who was doing a great job handling the issue. Nonetheless; while on flight following we received no call out of a traffic target that we would have at best come within a few feet of.I observed a plane approaching us on a direct collision course. Due to approaching at a roughly 60-degree angle and apparently at the same exact altitude; I did not want to turn us to the right or descend and possibly lose sight of the airplane when in a close proximity; fast closing speed; and similar altitude. We executed a quick climb - nothing directly evasive; as we had probably 15 seconds to take action; to gain as much altitude as possible and [to] keep the aircraft firmly in our sights. We quickly gained approximately 500 ft. They never responded; altered course; nor did they seem to notice us. There was no problem and the plane passed safely underneath. However; it was a concern as we were on flight following and it was a known ads-B target as were we. Had I not seen them who knows what may have happened.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: C-172 Pilot Not Flying reported encountering an NMAC event during cruise while on flight following.

Narrative: Basically another pilot and I were flying to ZZZ. We were on flight following which we picked up after departing the ZZZ1 SFR. There was a commotion we overheard on the radio with a possible gear up landing of [some aircraft]. I don't know if this 'excitement' contributed to the workload of the TRACON Controller who was doing a great job handling the issue. Nonetheless; while on flight following we received no call out of a traffic target that we would have at best come within a few feet of.I observed a plane approaching us on a direct collision course. Due to approaching at a roughly 60-degree angle and apparently at the same exact altitude; I did not want to turn us to the right or descend and possibly lose sight of the airplane when in a close proximity; fast closing speed; and similar altitude. We executed a quick climb - nothing directly evasive; as we had probably 15 seconds to take action; to gain as much altitude as possible and [to] keep the aircraft firmly in our sights. We quickly gained approximately 500 ft. They never responded; altered course; nor did they seem to notice us. There was no problem and the plane passed safely underneath. However; it was a concern as we were on flight following and it was a known ADS-B target as were we. Had I not seen them who knows what may have happened.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.

C-172 pilot not flying reported encountering an near midair collision event during cruise while on flight following.