Cessna 402/402C/B379 Businessliner/Utiliner
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Human-Machine Interface
ATC Issue All Types; Conflict NMAC
Air Traffic Control Issued Advisory / Alert; Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
Procedure; Airspace Structure; Human Factors
While climbing through 4;300 FT up to my cruise altitude of 7;000 FT Kansas City Center notified me of VFR traffic at 11 O'clock; less than a mile; at 4;500 FT; unverified. I was hand flying at the time; and looked for the traffic. Only when I leaned forward to look around the aircraft structure between the crew door and the windshield did I see a Bonanza at less than half a mile near my altitude. I was climbing at about 130 KTS; so I increased my rate of climb as I kept a close eye on the Bonanza. I climbed over the Bonanza and passed over him by 100-200 FT as I saw him disappear underneath my left engine. I notified ATC that the Bonanza passed close to me and asked if he was on her frequency. According to ATC they were not talking with him.I could not see the traffic coming from my left because it was blocked by the aircraft structure. The ATC traffic notification; while very helpful; came late. Equipment such as TCAS or TIS-B would have been very helpful to prevent this situation from occurring.
A windshield pillar restricted the ability of a CE-402 pilot to spot threatening traffic during his IFR climb. A timely advisory from ATC provided the impetus to expand his traffic watch and take appropriate evasive action.