Small Aircraft; Low Wing; 1 Eng; Retractable Gear
Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Flight Instructor; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 80; Flight Crew Total 2900; Flight Crew Type 200
Situational Awareness
ATC Issue All Types; Conflict NMAC; Deviation - Altitude Excursion From Assigned Altitude
Air Traffic Control Issued Advisory / Alert; Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
Human Factors; Procedure
While on an IFR training flight from ZZZ to ZZZ1 we were on an IFR flight plan at 10;000 ft. and in VMC conditions. ATC called a drone and chase plane at 11 o'clock and ten miles crossing our path left to right at the same altitude. We thought the drone and chase plane were moving back into the military airspace to the north. At five miles; the drone and chase plane turned directly into us at our altitude. The TA (Traffic Alert) warning lit up on our G1000 NXi and we visually identified the drone at our 12 o'clock at the same altitude. We disconnected the autopilot and made a gentle turn and dive to the left. The drone passed so close to our right we asked our passenger to take a picture of it; but she did not have time. I could easily identify the drone as about the same size as our aircraft. The chase plane passed above us to the left.After we got back on our course and altitude; I reported on frequency; 'Center; Aircraft X; we got a pretty good look at that drone.' ATC came back and said he was; 'trying to get them to turn several miles back'.We were exactly where we should have been on an IFR flight plan. Without our action; we would have had a mid-air collision.
The pilot of a small aircraft reported a near miss with a large UAS while flying on an IFR flight plan. The pilot was able to see and avoid it in time.