Flight Crew Commercial; Flight Crew Flight Instructor
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 103.0; Flight Crew Total 1091.9; Flight Crew Type 717.7
Distraction; Communication Breakdown; Situational Awareness
Conflict NMAC
Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
Human Factors
The student and I had taken off of Runway 17 and at 1;500 feet MSL turned on course to the practice area on a heading of about 230. At this point; I had the student put on their foggles to start their simulated instrument time. Tower informed us that there was an aircraft about 6 miles to the South of the airport which was going in our general direction; their path was South to North. I acknowledged the call and told Tower we would keep a lookout for the traffic. The student asked about something on the instrument panels so I looked inside to answer their question. I heard the other aircraft radio that they had us insight. Since I had not yet gotten them in sight; I hoped to now be able to since they had. I looked back outside in the general direction that the airplane was supposed to be at (right side) and saw the airplane in a steep bank at approximately 400 feet from us with no vertical difference. As soon as I saw them; I banked the airplane to the right and kept our climb pitch attitude. I reported to Tower that I had the aircraft in sight.The conditions that caused the problem were: my heads-down time answering the student's question; not having Tower get a distance from the traffic; and not being able to locate them sooner.Actions to prevent/correct the situation: do not have my head down to answer a student's question; have Tower get a distance from the traffic.
GA instructor pilot reported an NMAC during departure from SWO airport requiring an evasive maneuver.