Bonanza 36
Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Commercial
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 40; Flight Crew Total 350; Flight Crew Type 220
Situational Awareness
Conflict NMAC
Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
Airspace Structure; Procedure; Human Factors
I was on a flight to ZZZ. I filed an IFR plan for a direct flight at 9;000 feet. It was a smooth flight with a light tailwind. It was gentleman's IFR; a few minutes in the clouds followed by a few minutes in the clear. Getting closer; I was assigned a descent to 7;000 [feet] and then a few minutes later down to 5;000 [feet]. At 5;000 [feet]; it was mostly IMC. In an instant; my Lynx Transponder and IPAD issued a traffic warning at my 12 o'clock. same altitude. I cross checked with my G500 and made an attempt to zoom in to see how close the traffic actually was; a few pushes of the button and I realized I was already zoomed in and the traffic was indicating the same location. I shoved the nose down and descended. I'm now out of the clouds descending and nearing 4;000 [feet]. ATC issued an urgent traffic alert with traffic at my 12 [o'clock] and permission to deviate. I told ATC I was deviating and looking for traffic. I located the traffic and notified ATC that I had the traffic in sight and I would be climbing back to 5;000 feet once clear of it. The traffic looked to be doing s-turns.
Bonanza pilot reported executing evasive maneuvers to avoid another aircraft while on IFR flight plan in IMC.