Narrative:

Reporter is an instrument rated private pilot; acting as a safety pilot on a simulated instrument cross-country flight; with the owner of the aircraft acting as sole manipulator.flight was conducted under VFR in VMC with no adverse weather. Flight was on a discrete squawk code and in contact with ATC at all times (socal approach at the time of the event).during cruise; while not receiving radar vectors; [we] entered a practice hold at acins intersection; holding west along V388; right turns; maintaining 8;500 MSL; and making a direct entry into the hold as the approach was from the west. [We] crossed the fix; completed a 180 degree turn to the right; and was established on the outbound leg when both pilots noticed a target on the moving map (target was tis-B/ads-B) approaching head-on indicating +01 (100 feet above) and 3 miles away. Safety pilot spotted the approaching aircraft roughly 200 feet above and 1 mile directly ahead of [us]; and instructed the pilot flying to descend. Socal approach notified the other aircraft; a cessna of unknown type; of [us] with the instruction 'if not in sight; descend 500 feet immediately.' safety pilot took the flight controls and executed a steep descending right turn to avoid the descending cessna.it was not clear from the cockpit or during debrief why the approach controller instructed the cessna; which was observed to be higher than [us]; to descend; which caused far greater risk to both aircraft. Both aircraft would have been substantially safer if either or both were instructed to alter course to the right; as is standard for collision avoidance.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: GA pilot reported NMAC during a practice instrument hold without radar services.

Narrative: Reporter is an instrument rated private pilot; acting as a safety pilot on a simulated instrument cross-country flight; with the owner of the aircraft acting as sole manipulator.Flight was conducted under VFR in VMC with no adverse weather. Flight was on a discrete squawk code and in contact with ATC at all times (SoCal Approach at the time of the event).During cruise; while not receiving radar vectors; [we] entered a practice hold at ACINS intersection; holding west along V388; right turns; maintaining 8;500 MSL; and making a direct entry into the hold as the approach was from the west. [We] crossed the fix; completed a 180 degree turn to the right; and was established on the outbound leg when both pilots noticed a target on the moving map (target was TIS-B/ADS-B) approaching head-on indicating +01 (100 feet above) and 3 miles away. Safety pilot spotted the approaching aircraft roughly 200 feet above and 1 mile directly ahead of [us]; and instructed the pilot flying to descend. SoCal Approach notified the other aircraft; a Cessna of unknown type; of [us] with the instruction 'if not in sight; descend 500 feet immediately.' Safety pilot took the flight controls and executed a steep descending right turn to avoid the descending Cessna.It was not clear from the cockpit or during debrief why the Approach controller instructed the Cessna; which was observed to be higher than [us]; to descend; which caused far greater risk to both aircraft. Both aircraft would have been substantially safer if either or both were instructed to alter course to the right; as is standard for collision avoidance.

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.