Narrative:

Cruising at 7500 ft MSL, I elected to climb to 9500 ft for a smoother ride to top some cumulus clouds ahead. Passing 8500 ft I was happy with my decision since it was obvious I would be well above the clouds at 9500 ft. Climbing through 9300 ft I noticed an aircraft, also single engine, passing me with a high overtake, low to my right. There was no time to react. I assumed it was on an IFR flight plan at 9000 ft. It did not maneuver. I was concerned that I put myself into a situation where another aircraft passed so close by: 1) climbing so close to a VOR where there is often a lot of traffic. 2) navigating so close to a VOR on a VFR trip. 3) not monitoring the local approach control (2 days earlier patuxent approach radar was out and they were not providing VFR service -- I assumed this to still be the case). Corrective actions: in short, try to be where the average VFR flyer is not. If you're passing a VOR, do it 5 mi upwind. If you're going to be off altitude, be slightly high. Use ATC services if available, especially in congested airspace like the delmarva peninsula. Don't forget to check 6 O'clock position!

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN SMA PLT EXPERIENCES AN NMAC WITH ANOTHER SMA WHO PASSED HIM UP DURING THE RPTR'S CLB TOWARDS 9500 FT.

Narrative: CRUISING AT 7500 FT MSL, I ELECTED TO CLB TO 9500 FT FOR A SMOOTHER RIDE TO TOP SOME CUMULUS CLOUDS AHEAD. PASSING 8500 FT I WAS HAPPY WITH MY DECISION SINCE IT WAS OBVIOUS I WOULD BE WELL ABOVE THE CLOUDS AT 9500 FT. CLBING THROUGH 9300 FT I NOTICED AN ACFT, ALSO SINGLE ENG, PASSING ME WITH A HIGH OVERTAKE, LOW TO MY R. THERE WAS NO TIME TO REACT. I ASSUMED IT WAS ON AN IFR FLT PLAN AT 9000 FT. IT DID NOT MANEUVER. I WAS CONCERNED THAT I PUT MYSELF INTO A SIT WHERE ANOTHER ACFT PASSED SO CLOSE BY: 1) CLBING SO CLOSE TO A VOR WHERE THERE IS OFTEN A LOT OF TFC. 2) NAVING SO CLOSE TO A VOR ON A VFR TRIP. 3) NOT MONITORING THE LCL APCH CTL (2 DAYS EARLIER PATUXENT APCH RADAR WAS OUT AND THEY WERE NOT PROVIDING VFR SVC -- I ASSUMED THIS TO STILL BE THE CASE). CORRECTIVE ACTIONS: IN SHORT, TRY TO BE WHERE THE AVERAGE VFR FLYER IS NOT. IF YOU'RE PASSING A VOR, DO IT 5 MI UPWIND. IF YOU'RE GOING TO BE OFF ALT, BE SLIGHTLY HIGH. USE ATC SVCS IF AVAILABLE, ESPECIALLY IN CONGESTED AIRSPACE LIKE THE DELMARVA PENINSULA. DON'T FORGET TO CHK 6 O'CLOCK POS!

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 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.