Narrative:

I was climbing out of bend airport (S07) to the south. I checked in with ZSE passing through 10000 ft (no radar coverage lower). Radar contact. Head-on traffic descending, head-on, told to stop descent at 12000 ft. Traffic pointed out to me. No course of action suggested to me. So, I continued climb on same course. Arriving at 12000 ft, I saw other aircraft almost head on at my altitude. I turned slightly east. Then the other aircraft spotted me, no diversion was made by other aircraft. Controller came on, a bit agitated, and asked the other aircraft if he received an RA. None reported. Then controller chewed me out that I should have leveled before 10000 ft. I simply acknowledged. He had my climb rate on radar, he had other aircraft's descent rate. He should have noted potential conflict and suggested a better alternative to myself or other aircraft. He was correct that, if I had been more aware of the situation, I should have leveled sooner. I had not flown in weeks, had just checked in and was not 100% aware yet. If controller saw conflict, he should speak up. I do not read minds. I feel the controller made the bigger mistake. If I had not checked in just then, and not been watching, it would have been a lot closer. I realize I am given radar advisories 'when able,' but the other aircraft was IFR and deserved better. I am having more and more close calls under flight following and want better.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A C210 PLT CONTINUED HIS CLB TO 12000 FT, EVEN THOUGH HE HEARD ZSE TRACON STOP THE DSCNT OF AN ACR AT 12000 FT, WHICH CAUSED A CONFLICT.

Narrative: I WAS CLBING OUT OF BEND ARPT (S07) TO THE S. I CHKED IN WITH ZSE PASSING THROUGH 10000 FT (NO RADAR COVERAGE LOWER). RADAR CONTACT. HEAD-ON TFC DSNDING, HEAD-ON, TOLD TO STOP DSCNT AT 12000 FT. TFC POINTED OUT TO ME. NO COURSE OF ACTION SUGGESTED TO ME. SO, I CONTINUED CLB ON SAME COURSE. ARRIVING AT 12000 FT, I SAW OTHER ACFT ALMOST HEAD ON AT MY ALT. I TURNED SLIGHTLY E. THEN THE OTHER ACFT SPOTTED ME, NO DIVERSION WAS MADE BY OTHER ACFT. CTLR CAME ON, A BIT AGITATED, AND ASKED THE OTHER ACFT IF HE RECEIVED AN RA. NONE RPTED. THEN CTLR CHEWED ME OUT THAT I SHOULD HAVE LEVELED BEFORE 10000 FT. I SIMPLY ACKNOWLEDGED. HE HAD MY CLB RATE ON RADAR, HE HAD OTHER ACFT'S DSCNT RATE. HE SHOULD HAVE NOTED POTENTIAL CONFLICT AND SUGGESTED A BETTER ALTERNATIVE TO MYSELF OR OTHER ACFT. HE WAS CORRECT THAT, IF I HAD BEEN MORE AWARE OF THE SIT, I SHOULD HAVE LEVELED SOONER. I HAD NOT FLOWN IN WKS, HAD JUST CHKED IN AND WAS NOT 100% AWARE YET. IF CTLR SAW CONFLICT, HE SHOULD SPEAK UP. I DO NOT READ MINDS. I FEEL THE CTLR MADE THE BIGGER MISTAKE. IF I HAD NOT CHKED IN JUST THEN, AND NOT BEEN WATCHING, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A LOT CLOSER. I REALIZE I AM GIVEN RADAR ADVISORIES 'WHEN ABLE,' BUT THE OTHER ACFT WAS IFR AND DESERVED BETTER. I AM HAVING MORE AND MORE CLOSE CALLS UNDER FLT FOLLOWING AND WANT BETTER.

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.