Sundowner 23
Flight Crew Commercial; Flight Crew Instrument
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 20; Flight Crew Total 1500; Flight Crew Type 700
Situational Awareness
ATC Issue All Types; Conflict NMAC
General None Reported / Taken
Procedure; Human Factors
I was on an IFR Flight Plan and cleared for takeoff on Runway 28. My departure instructions were to turn left to a heading of 120 and climb to 3000. Other aircraft were in the pattern and arriving. On takeoff I climbed to 700 AGL on runway heading then began my turn per instructions. The controller advised me to extend my upwind leg due to arriving traffic. I did not see the other aircraft but turned to make an upwind leg. The controller called me again and said traffic was close. At that time the other aircraft passed above me and about 200 feet away. I think that my take off instructions should have been to fly runway heading until the tower could see I was past the aircraft arriving on downwind or fly runway heading until above pattern altitude. The controller probably expected me to fly a standard pattern but my take off clearance was just to turn to 120. I think this near miss could be prevented by just clearing departing aircraft to fly runway heading until above pattern altitude then telling me to turn to the appropriate heading for my IFR flight plan.
Beech Sundowner pilot reported an NMAC shortly after his IFR departure from BVI airport.