Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Private
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 6; Flight Crew Total 1950; Flight Crew Type 1200
Situational Awareness
Conflict NMAC
Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
Human Factors; Procedure
I was climbing during a straight-out departure from runway 29 at Bridgeport Airport. I was at 2900 feet MSL; heading 290 degrees. I looked out my left window during a scan for traffic; and saw a Learjet at about 150 feet away; at my altitude; also heading in a westerly direction; in a slight left bank.I am quite certain this Learjet had also just departed Bridgeport soon after I had; because I remember seeing the aircraft on the ground at Bridgeport waiting for takeoff clearance as I was taking off. I assume; but do not know for certain; that the Lear had also requested a straight-out departure from runway 29; and had overtaken me because of his higher speed. I assume the Lear pilot may have seen me and therefore was banking left to avoid my aircraft; but I also don't know if that is true. It may have been luck that he had banked when he did; or I believe his aircraft may have collided with mine.I believe the only way to have avoided this near-miss was for the tower not to have allowed the Lear to perform a straight-out departure so soon after a slower aircraft (my aircraft) had departed on a straight-out departure. Again; I do not know for sure if the Learjet had made a straight-out departure; or if he had come so close behind me during maneuvers after some other type of departure. All I know for sure is he came from behind and was very close when I finally saw him on my left.
PA28 pilot reported an NMAC with a Learjet on departure from BDR.