Narrative:

I called sql tower on 119.00 with ATIS information over crystal springs, 7 mi west of sql and was instructed to report overhead at 1200 ft. Runway 30 was in use, right traffic. Thus, I was expected to pass overhead with an approximately heading of 060 degrees, mid field for downwind entry. This is common procedure with which I am familiar. There were numerous aircraft in the pattern or talking to ATC. Just before arriving 'overhead,' the tower launched a cessna centurion on an IFR departure. I saw this aircraft depart and on upwind before reaching overhead. Upon doing so, the air waves were filled with 'chatter' and I could not report overhead. I continued at 1200 ft MSL on 060 degree heading until over downwind before getting clear time on radio to report. After a long pause, the controller directed me to turn north for 3 mi and hold for re-entry to the pattern. Immediately upon doing so, I saw the IFR centurion, now on downwind, heading straight for me. We both avoided one another and I continued north until reaching the bayshore line (approximately 2.5 mi) and told the controller he had vectored me toward the departure IFR cessna. Rather than attend to all the traffic, he apologized to me and tried to 'calm' me down. I guess my call of the near miss sounded 'excited.'

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PLT IN SMA ACFT APCHING SQL FROM THE S HAS AN NMAC WITH A DEP THAT WAS TURNING DOWNWIND (RPTR SAID UPWIND).

Narrative: I CALLED SQL TWR ON 119.00 WITH ATIS INFO OVER CRYSTAL SPRINGS, 7 MI W OF SQL AND WAS INSTRUCTED TO RPT OVERHEAD AT 1200 FT. RWY 30 WAS IN USE, R TFC. THUS, I WAS EXPECTED TO PASS OVERHEAD WITH AN APPROX HDG OF 060 DEGS, MID FIELD FOR DOWNWIND ENTRY. THIS IS COMMON PROC WITH WHICH I AM FAMILIAR. THERE WERE NUMEROUS ACFT IN THE PATTERN OR TALKING TO ATC. JUST BEFORE ARRIVING 'OVERHEAD,' THE TWR LAUNCHED A CESSNA CENTURION ON AN IFR DEP. I SAW THIS ACFT DEPART AND ON UPWIND BEFORE REACHING OVERHEAD. UPON DOING SO, THE AIR WAVES WERE FILLED WITH 'CHATTER' AND I COULD NOT RPT OVERHEAD. I CONTINUED AT 1200 FT MSL ON 060 DEG HDG UNTIL OVER DOWNWIND BEFORE GETTING CLR TIME ON RADIO TO RPT. AFTER A LONG PAUSE, THE CTLR DIRECTED ME TO TURN N FOR 3 MI AND HOLD FOR RE-ENTRY TO THE PATTERN. IMMEDIATELY UPON DOING SO, I SAW THE IFR CENTURION, NOW ON DOWNWIND, HDG STRAIGHT FOR ME. WE BOTH AVOIDED ONE ANOTHER AND I CONTINUED N UNTIL REACHING THE BAYSHORE LINE (APPROX 2.5 MI) AND TOLD THE CTLR HE HAD VECTORED ME TOWARD THE DEP IFR CESSNA. RATHER THAN ATTEND TO ALL THE TFC, HE APOLOGIZED TO ME AND TRIED TO 'CALM' ME DOWN. I GUESS MY CALL OF THE NEAR MISS SOUNDED 'EXCITED.'

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.