RV-10
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Flight Instructor; Flight Crew Multiengine
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 15; Flight Crew Total 4500; Flight Crew Type 300
Other / Unknown; Situational Awareness
Conflict Airborne Conflict
Air Traffic Control Issued Advisory / Alert; Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
Airspace Structure; Human Factors
I was returning to Base from the south; circumnavigating the RSW Class C airspace to the west; descending through 3;500 MSL and monitoring the RSW Approach frequency. I was squawking 1200 and not participating in ATC control. I saw the CRJ on ADS-B 20 miles out; and suspected there might be a traffic conflict; so I adjusted my descent trajectory slightly to see if that would avoid the conflict. I heard ATC call me as traffic to the jet and heard him acknowledge. As the jet closed in I saw it visually and again attempted to adapt my trajectory to avoid the jet; while avoiding the Class C as well. I did not let the jet out of my sight; however; with our closing speeds approaching 400 KTS; a moment later ATC called a traffic alert to the jet; which appeared to begin a resolution action right into me. I again turned and this time climbed away from the jet; and it passed under me without further incident. I feel like I did everything in my power to avoid the other aircraft. I know that our symbols merged on the radar screen briefly; as it did on my ADS-B readout. This could not have been a good feeling for the ATC controller; but I feel that he had ample time to turn the other aircraft slightly or arrest its descent to avoid the near miss. The airspace was not congested. The question is; why didn't those pilots or ATC do anything until the last possible second? And why did their initial conflict resolution from their TCAS appear to fly them right into me?
RV-10 pilot describes an airborne conflict with a regional jet approaching RWS from the west at 3;000 FT. The RV-10 had ADS-B and it appeared to the reporter that the initial resolution taken by the CRJ pilots was in the wrong direction.