Small Aircraft
Flight Crew Commercial; Flight Crew Flight Instructor; Flight Crew Instrument
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 280; Flight Crew Total 16500; Flight Crew Type 14000
Situational Awareness; Workload; Distraction
Airspace Violation All Types; Conflict NMAC; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Unauthorized Flight Operations (UAS); Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural FAR
Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
Human Factors
While flying a routine weekly route I came across a very small unmanned drone. I flew past him at very close proximity. When I first noticed it; I thought it was a distant airplane and then thought maybe it was a glider. But in a matter of about 2 seconds I realized it was a drone; much slower than me in which I had to deviate to avoid. This drone was flying at my altitude of approximately 600-700 feet AGL. When I first saw the drone it was near my 1 o'clock position and within 3-4 seconds it flew in front of me and towards my 10 o'clock position. I was surprised the drone would fly at an altitude near 600 feet AGL. I'm glad they paint them glossy white; it did help it to stand out.
C182 pilot reported that while flying at low altitudes between 500-1;000 feet AGL came within 200 feet of a small UAS.