2 CESSNA PLTS HAVE AN NMAC WITH EACH OTHER WHILE IN ZMP CLASS E AIRSPACE IN PROX OF A PVT ARPT.

Narrative

I WAS OPERATING ON A PLEASURE FLT. THE WX WAS REMARKABLY CLR WITHOUT ANY RESTRS TO VISIBILITY. I WAS FLYING SOLO; TRYING TO IDENT 3 SMALL PVT AIRSTRIPS JUST S OF NORTH BRANCH; MN. AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT; I WAS AT APPROX 3500 FT MSL (2600 FT AGL); APPROX 1 - 1 1/2 SM W OF BOWERS (PVT) ON A HDG OF APPROX 170-180 DEGS. MY ATTN WAS DIVIDED BTWN THE GND AND THE SECTIONAL CHART WHILE LOOKING FOR THE AIRSTRIP(S). WHEN I LOOKED UP I WAS STARTLED TO SEE A RED AND WHITE C172 OR C182 IN LEVEL FLT ON A HDG OF APPROX 010-020 DEGS WITH OUR COURSES CONVERGING. AT THE TIME I FIRST SIGHTED THE OTHER ACFT; I WOULD ESTIMATE OUR RANGE TO BE APPROX 1000-1200 FT (BASED ON ESTIMATED CLOSING TIME AND AIRSPDS); AND OUR TOTAL ANGLE OF CONVERGENCE AT 10-20 DEGS. WITHIN APPROX 1 - 1 1/2 SECONDS OF SIGHTING THE OTHER ACFT; WE BOTH INITIATED SHALLOW TURNS TO THE R; PASSING APPROX 200-300 FT HORIZLY; AND WITHIN ABOUT 10-20 FT VERTLY. THE OTHER ACFT CONTINUED ON COURSE. I CONTINUED MY TURN TO A HDG OF 270 DEGS AND DSNDED TO 2500 FT. WHEN I LAST SAW THE OTHER ACFT; IT APPEARED TO BE CONTINUING ON COURSE NE. IN RETROSPECT; I WAS OBVIOUSLY TOO FOCUSED ON THE TASK OF LOCATING THE AIRSTRIP; AND SHOULD HAVE MAINTAINED MORE VIGILANCE IN MY TFC SCAN. I CANNOT VOUCH FOR THE OTHER PLT'S SCAN. THE OTHER CONTRIBUTING FACTOR COULD HAVE BEEN CONDUCTING THIS OP AT AN ALT AND HDG THAT THE OTHER PLT MAY HAVE BELIEVED TO HAVE BEEN A VFR CRUISING ALT.