Date: 202107
Local time of day: 0601-1200
Location: ZZZ.Airport, US
Flight conditions: VMC
Weather elements / visibility: Haze / Smoke; 10
Light: Daylight
Aircraft: Zenith Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operator: Personal
Operating under: Part 91
Flight plan: None
Mission: Personal
Flight phase: Cruise
Airspace: Class E ZZZ
Second aircraft: Cessna 152
Aircraft component: Air/Ground Communication
Component problem: Improperly Operated; Malfunctioning
Reporter organization: Personal
Reporter function: Pilot Flying; Single Pilot
Reporter qualification: Flight Crew Commercial; Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine
Human factors: Communication Breakdown; Confusion; Distraction; Situational Awareness
Anomaly: Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Conflict NMAC; Deviation - Track / Heading All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Detector: Automation Aircraft TA; Person Flight Crew
When detected: In-flight
Result: Air Traffic Control Issued Advisory / Alert; Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
Contributing factors: Aircraft; Human Factors; Procedure
Primary problem: Human Factors

Narrative: I was proceeding northbound on a VFR flight from ZZZ to ZZZ1 with flight following (ZZZ2 or ZZZ3- I can't recall which). I had observed an aircraft on my ADS-B traffic that appeared as if it would be slightly to the right of my flight path but presented no conflict (blue vs red indication). It was very hazy and as I was concerned with the varying cloud layer conditions ahead; I scrolled my flight display forward; located the AWOS for ZZZ1 and had just dialed it into my #2 comm (monitoring flight following on comm 1). Before I could scroll the ADS-B driven display back to my immediate area and so that I could re-acquire the ADS-B traffic target I heard the beginning of an urgent alert for traffic conflict from ATC. I heard the traffic alert warning and the words 'Immediate turn...'. Simultaneously I had a traffic alert alarm flash with audible warning on my ADS-B flight display (but no display of the target itself; just to have the AWOS I had dialed in come blasting in over comm 2; completely blocking comm 1 ATC instructions beyond the words 'immediate turn'.  The volume had been set too high on comm 2. Since my last view of the oncoming target I had on ADS-B seemed to indicate that it would pass on my right; I immediately and automatically turned left and visually scanned as it was no time to have my head in the cockpit or fiddle with radios. The Controller repeated the warning and that time I heard his instructions to 'turn right' (his second warning) during the AWOS lull. I heard the 'turn right' about the same time I visually acquired the oncoming aircraft. I saw it at my approximately 10 to 11 O'clock at about a mile or so; opposite direction at what appeared to be 200 feet lower than me (very rough; estimate) about 5;300 feet MSL; I think. I immediately turned hard right. The target was a Cessna (C152 I think) flying on a roughly parallel course by then on my left wing at the incorrect altitude for their direction of flight. I was flying at about 5;500 feet MSL on a north-northeast heading. After shutting down the background noise from Comm 2; and resuming course; ATC asked me if they had clearly communicated the instructions to 'turn right' which they had transmitted twice. I replied; Yes" as this as the Controller certainly had transmitted clearly; but due to the audible interference from comm 2 and the ADS-B traffic alert; I could not hear the communication clearly until the second warning; after I had already initiated a left turn. Given the last known position of the other aircraft and hearing only a partial warning from ATC; and the need to immediately react; I initially turned into (left) instead of away from (right) the traffic conflict as per ATC transmission."




Synopsis: Pilot reported taking evasive action to avoid a mid-air air collision with an aircraft.