Skylane 182/RG Turbo Skylane/RG
Flight Crew Private
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 8; Flight Crew Total 160; Flight Crew Type 5
Conflict NMAC; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Air Traffic Control Issued Advisory / Alert; Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
Airspace Structure; Human Factors
Returning at 3;500 cruise altitude heading direct to CCR (Concord; CA) between 120 and 130 knots. Using Flight Following with Oakland Center (Freq 127.8). Executive type; twin engine jet was approaching head on at same flight level. Its landing gear was retracted. Oakland Center warned of traffic at 12 o'clock. Approaching jet was on radar; but not identified. Jet did not change course or attitude. Given closing speeds and the fact the jet remained wings level; I determined safest course of evasive action was to force my plane into a steep dive to avoid head on collision. Estimate jet passed directly overhead at approximately 300 feet.
C182 pilot reported an NMAC with a small jet in Oakland Center Class E airspace.