Flight Crew Private; Flight Crew Instrument
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 47.1; Flight Crew Total 336.8; Flight Crew Type 250
Situational Awareness; Distraction
Conflict NMAC; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural FAR
General None Reported / Taken
Airspace Structure; Environment - Non Weather Related; Human Factors
Approximately 3 NM northwest of 06FA; I encountered a drone that came close enough to hear the propeller noise from the drone inside my cabin. Neither TCAS nor ATC advised of the drone; which was approximately the size of a bird and traveling at a high rate of speed. The small size of the drone made it impossible to see in early morning haze and low light conditions. The drone did not have any operating lights. All navigation and anti-collision lights were on for my aircraft.I advised ATC of the presence of the drone; shortly before being handed off to the next ATC facility. The small size of the drone made it impossible to see until it was too late to take any evasive action; and but for luck; the drone would have impacted the aircraft.
The reporter did not identify the UAV type in the early morning light but heard it as it passed.
An IFR PA-28 pilot near 06FA at dawn in VMC reported a near miss at 5;000 FT with an unlit drone which was very difficult to detect in the low light conditions.