Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172
Flight Crew Commercial; Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Instrument
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 6; Flight Crew Total 250; Flight Crew Type 6
Conflict NMAC
Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
Human Factors
I was practicing maneuvers south of Lafayette; Indiana at 5;500 FT MSL when I spotted what I thought was a bird closing straight at the nose of the aircraft. I turned away as fast as possible to avoid collision but looking at the object; I saw that it was metal and about the size of a basketball. I left the area immediately and returned to Lafayette.
A C172 pilot took evasive action at 5;500 FT to avoid a small metallic object.