Small Aircraft
Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Instrument
Distraction; Situational Awareness
Conflict Airborne Conflict; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural FAR
Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
Procedure; Human Factors; Aircraft
Flying VFR with flight following from ZZZ Approach on local flight to maintain currency and run engine during COVID-19 inactivity. I was flying at 500 feet when my ADS-B/TIS traffic alert activated. I observed traffic head on at my altitude about a mile away; opposite direction that appeared to be a small aircraft as well. I immediately turned to the right; and descended to approximately 300 feet. The traffic passed off my left with adequate clearance. As I recovered from this maneuver I found myself around 300 feet over a group of people; possibly violating minimum altitude over persons. Once the traffic passed I climbed to a safe altitude consistent with minimum altitudes for the area.
Pilot reported having to descend to avoid a collision; then realized aircraft may have been too low over a group of people.