Military Trainer
Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Flight Instructor; Flight Crew Instrument
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 60; Flight Crew Total 3244; Flight Crew Type 1529
Training / Qualification; Situational Awareness
Conflict NMAC; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
Human Factors
A near mid-air collision occurred between a flight of 2 [military trainers] and what appeared to be a Cessna 172. Prior to the incident; the flight of [trainers] had exited the X area just prior to point F due to sun angle shadowing of terrain at that time of day; had re-joined as a flight; slowed to 250 KIAS; climbed to 7;500 feet MSL and turned to an approximate heading of 120 degrees to return to ZZZ. Upon completing a lead change out of that turn; the lead pilot went heads down to look for ZZZ Center's frequency. Approximately 4-5 seconds later; the pilot at the controls of the dash 2 [trainer] called 'TRAFFIC TRAFFIC TRAFFIC' over the inter-flight frequency whereupon the lead pilot looked up to see the belly of the Cessna 172 filling his windscreen approximately 20 feet above and 500 feet ahead of the lead [trainer] going the same direction.The lead [trainer] took evasive action by executing a bunt to increase vertical separation from the Cessna. Once past the point of miss; the flight continued the decent to follow course rules into ZZZ; obtained ATIS information for ZZZ and switched to ZZZ tower. The flight landed without further incident.
Military pilot reported NMAC with a C172 during a training mission.