RV6 pilot reported a near-midair-collision with a cirrus at 2;300 feet while approaching an airport.

Attributes
ACN	1524173
Time
Date	201803
Local Time Of Day	1201-1800
Place
Locale Reference	SMO.Tower
State Reference	CA
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	RV-6
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	Cruise
Route In Use	Direct
Flight Plan	None
Aircraft 2
Make Model Name	Cirrus Aircraft Undifferentiated
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	Cruise
Person 1
Function	Pilot Flying Single Pilot
Qualification	Flight Crew Flight Instructor Flight Crew Instrument Flight Crew Multiengine
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 20 Flight Crew Total 3250 Flight Crew Type 400
Events
Anomaly	Conflict NMAC Deviation - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Miss Distance	Horizontal 500 Vertical 300

Narrative:

I called the tower with the ATIS about 10 west of the airport. Tower advised traffic at 2;300 feet and suggested a left 360 degree turn for spacing since he was overtaking me at a pretty good clip. I verified a left 360 and the tower affirmed the instructions. As I started to roll into the turn; a cirrus quickly passed slightly above and to my left. I can only imagine my surprise (terror?) if I had stayed in the turn. I have no idea if he saw me at all. I hope other pilots remember that the faster aircraft should pass on the right (far 91.113 (f)). This could have been very inconvenient for both aircraft.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: RV6 pilot reported a near-midair-collision with a Cirrus at 2;300 feet while approaching an airport.

Narrative: I called the Tower with the ATIS about 10 west of the airport. Tower advised traffic at 2;300 feet and suggested a left 360 degree turn for spacing since he was overtaking me at a pretty good clip. I verified a left 360 and the tower affirmed the instructions. As I started to roll into the turn; a Cirrus quickly passed slightly above and to my LEFT. I can only imagine my surprise (terror?) if I had stayed in the turn. I have no idea if he saw me at all. I hope other pilots remember that the faster aircraft should pass on the right (FAR 91.113 (f)). This could have been very inconvenient for both aircraft.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.