A PA44 pilot experienced an near midair collision with a C172 at night.

Attributes
ACN	746220
Time
Date	200707
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : tix.airport
State Reference	FL
Altitude	msl single value : 2500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : mco.tracon
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	PA-44 Seminole Turbo Seminole
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Plan	VFR
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	tracon : mco.tracon
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : instrument pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 15 flight time total : 123 flight time type : 40
ASRS Report	746220
Person 2
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Events
Anomaly	conflict : nmac
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : took evasive action
Miss Distance	horizontal : 100 vertical : 100
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

Flying on a VFR flight plan in VFR conditions to mth via X51 the approximately location of the near midair collision was 7-10 mi wsw of tix. While actively scanning for traffic; I idented the aircraft in question off our 2 O'clock position while it was about 2-3 mi out. Upon identing the aircraft orlando approach provided a traffic alert to me about an aircraft 'off your 2 O'clock; about 2 mi; 2600 same direction.' I reported the aircraft in sight and assumed the aircraft would be no factor. However; upon further inspection I saw the confign of the position lights relative to my aircraft and saw that it was actually flying from my right to left. I immediately turned right and descended to pass behind the aircraft. Human factors: one of the factors that led to this near midair collision was this flight was only my second night flight in approximately a yr and a half. Upon identing the aircraft; I should have immediately looked at the aircraft lighting confign to see which direction it was truly heading in relation to my aircraft instead of blindly trusting the traffic report by orlando approach. If I would have taken this specific action earlier I would have had plenty of time to maneuver my aircraft to pass well behind the opposing traffic.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A PA44 PILOT EXPERIENCED AN NMAC WITH A C172 AT NIGHT.

Narrative: FLYING ON A VFR FLT PLAN IN VFR CONDITIONS TO MTH VIA X51 THE APPROX LOCATION OF THE NMAC WAS 7-10 MI WSW OF TIX. WHILE ACTIVELY SCANNING FOR TFC; I IDENTED THE ACFT IN QUESTION OFF OUR 2 O'CLOCK POS WHILE IT WAS ABOUT 2-3 MI OUT. UPON IDENTING THE ACFT ORLANDO APCH PROVIDED A TFC ALERT TO ME ABOUT AN ACFT 'OFF YOUR 2 O'CLOCK; ABOUT 2 MI; 2600 SAME DIRECTION.' I RPTED THE ACFT IN SIGHT AND ASSUMED THE ACFT WOULD BE NO FACTOR. HOWEVER; UPON FURTHER INSPECTION I SAW THE CONFIGN OF THE POS LIGHTS RELATIVE TO MY ACFT AND SAW THAT IT WAS ACTUALLY FLYING FROM MY R TO L. I IMMEDIATELY TURNED R AND DSNDED TO PASS BEHIND THE ACFT. HUMAN FACTORS: ONE OF THE FACTORS THAT LED TO THIS NMAC WAS THIS FLT WAS ONLY MY SECOND NIGHT FLT IN APPROX A YR AND A HALF. UPON IDENTING THE ACFT; I SHOULD HAVE IMMEDIATELY LOOKED AT THE ACFT LIGHTING CONFIGN TO SEE WHICH DIRECTION IT WAS TRULY HEADING IN RELATION TO MY ACFT INSTEAD OF BLINDLY TRUSTING THE TFC RPT BY ORLANDO APCH. IF I WOULD HAVE TAKEN THIS SPECIFIC ACTION EARLIER I WOULD HAVE HAD PLENTY OF TIME TO MANEUVER MY ACFT TO PASS WELL BEHIND THE OPPOSING TFC.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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.