A C210 pilot experienced an near midair collision at 12500 ft over mountainous terrain in clear WX.

Attributes
ACN	640691
Time
Date	200412
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : cim.vortac
State Reference	NM
Altitude	msl bound lower : 12500 msl bound upper : 13100
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zab.artcc
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Cessna 210 Centurion / Turbo Centurion 210C, 210D
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	VFR
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zab.artcc
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 40 flight time total : 330 flight time type : 40
ASRS Report	640691
Events
Anomaly	conflict : nmac non adherence : clearance non adherence : far
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Miss Distance	horizontal : 100
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Airspace Structure Flight Crew Human Performance ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

I was fling at 12500 ft MSL approximately 2000 ft AGL swbnd to santa flight engineer, NM, from centennial with a filed VFR flight plan with flight following. Approximately 50 mi north of cimarron VOR, I heard ZAB inform me of traffic nebound along my route at 13200 ft. In other words, direct in my path. I repeatedly told ZAB radio that I had terrain issues and needed a higher altitude. I had a printed flight plan with all necessary altitudes. I again asked ZAB what minimum IFR altitude was, which was 15000+ ft, along my next leg which was planned for about 20 mins of flight. ZAB suggested I not climb till I had traffic in sight. I turned right to avoid traffic and climbed to avoid terrain. I never saw the traffic. I heard him state that we missed by 100 ft. We both should have turned to the right much earlier. Unlimited visibility at the time. It is shameful that we got so close when all we had to do was turn 5 mi earlier when the situation began.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A C210 PLT EXPERIENCED AN NMAC AT 12500 FT OVER MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN IN CLR WX.

Narrative: I WAS FLING AT 12500 FT MSL APPROX 2000 FT AGL SWBND TO SANTA FE, NM, FROM CENTENNIAL WITH A FILED VFR FLT PLAN WITH FLT FOLLOWING. APPROX 50 MI N OF CIMARRON VOR, I HEARD ZAB INFORM ME OF TFC NEBOUND ALONG MY RTE AT 13200 FT. IN OTHER WORDS, DIRECT IN MY PATH. I REPEATEDLY TOLD ZAB RADIO THAT I HAD TERRAIN ISSUES AND NEEDED A HIGHER ALT. I HAD A PRINTED FLT PLAN WITH ALL NECESSARY ALTS. I AGAIN ASKED ZAB WHAT MINIMUM IFR ALT WAS, WHICH WAS 15000+ FT, ALONG MY NEXT LEG WHICH WAS PLANNED FOR ABOUT 20 MINS OF FLT. ZAB SUGGESTED I NOT CLB TILL I HAD TFC IN SIGHT. I TURNED R TO AVOID TFC AND CLBED TO AVOID TERRAIN. I NEVER SAW THE TFC. I HEARD HIM STATE THAT WE MISSED BY 100 FT. WE BOTH SHOULD HAVE TURNED TO THE R MUCH EARLIER. UNLIMITED VISIBILITY AT THE TIME. IT IS SHAMEFUL THAT WE GOT SO CLOSE WHEN ALL WE HAD TO DO WAS TURN 5 MI EARLIER WHEN THE SIT BEGAN.

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.