Small Aircraft; High Wing; 1 Eng; Fixed Gear
Flight Crew Commercial; Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Instrument
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 33; Flight Crew Total 1787; Flight Crew Type 1500
Distraction; Communication Breakdown; Human-Machine Interface; Workload; Situational Awareness; Time Pressure
Conflict NMAC
Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
Airspace Structure; Human Factors; Procedure
I departed Wings field while a TFR was active. Wings field has a cut-out for the TFR but I still got a discrete code and frequency from Philly ATC before departing. When I departed; there was one plane that had just done a go-around and another coming from the north to cross the field and enter the pattern. Rather than do a left turn out and add congestion to the left downwind; I decided to do a right turnout to stay away from the traffic in the downwind and provide room for the incoming traffic to enter the pattern. I announced my intentions on CTAF and the inbound plane acknowledged my intent. The runway I departed (24) headed directly at the TFR. My plan was to call Philly; turn into the TFR and get clearance through the Bravo airspace. As I climbed; the TFR was coming up very quickly. I was not at TPA (Traffic Pattern Altitude) but I was also not talking to Philly yet. I was concerned about entering the TFR without talking even though I was transmitting a discrete code. So; I made a hard turn to the right to stay out of the TFR but was anxious about calling Philly. I changed off CTAF and called Philly (but was still climbing to TPA). Just as I did; my traffic alert system started sounding an alarm. I could not hear what Philly was saying because the traffic alert system was extremely loud. I assumed it was alerting me to the traffic in the left downwind and I tried to silence it. As a result of trying to talk to Philly and trying to silence the traffic alert system; I got distracted and failed to keep my head outside the aircraft (failed to aviate above everything else). When I finally looked outside there was another plane crossing about fifty feet from me. I have asked several people; but it is still not clear to me whether I can enter the TFR while transmitting a discrete code but not talk to ATC until I reach a safe altitude clear from the traffic pattern at the airport. I would think that is the case; but I don't want to assume that. I also think more room should be given for airport cut-outs for TFRs. The TFR starts about .9 miles from the end of the runway which should be enough to get to TPA; but it still requires a pretty sharp U-turn to avoid the TFR.
Pilot reports a NMAC during climb out after takeoff from LOM airport.