Cardinal 177/177RG
Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 30; Flight Crew Total 7000; Flight Crew Type 850
Conflict NMAC
Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
Airspace Structure; Human Factors
While cruising enroute to PHL at 8;500 feet I received a warning on my TCAS of traffic; I obtained a visual of the passenger jet on a collision course coming from my right rear. I immediately turned 90 degrees left and watched the aircraft slip passed me virtually where I was. I also started a climb to minimize wake turbulence. It appeared the airliner never saw me and had I not had the Garmin traffic; I would have been struck.
C177 pilot experiences a NMAC at 8;500 feet near SAX (VOR) with an airliner overtaking from behind. Garmin traffic provided enough warning to narrowly avoid a collision. The Air Carrier crew apparently did not detect the C177.