Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Private
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 40; Flight Crew Total 450; Flight Crew Type 80
ATC Issue All Types; Conflict NMAC; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Human Factors
Flying level at 8000 feet and talking to Jacksonville controller; I noticed a plane on ADS-B straight ahead and about 7 miles and 1000 feet below. The plane was climbing and when I noticed it at 5 miles and 800 feet; I queried the controller. His response was that I should be on a different frequency and gave me that frequency. On changing frequency; I switched off autopilot and prepared for an immediate turn all while searching for the traffic. On listening to the new frequency; it was clear that the controller was communicating with that plane and was frustrated that I was not in communication with him. ADS-B shows that we were within 400 feet of each other but I never saw the other traffic. The new controller asked what my previous frequency was. The flight proceeded normally thereafter.The problem likely arose from task saturation in the controller's sector due to increased traffic from [an aviation event]. We were just north of Lakeland; just west of the Center City VOR. A contributing factor is the difficulty in determining the correct communication frequency and change over points for sectors. These are shown; but minimally; on the IFR low charts. In the future; I plan to be much more diligent about which sector I am in and knowing when that sector changes.
Small aircraft pilot reported a NMAC north of LAL while on an IFR flight.