Small Aircraft; High Wing; 1 Eng; Fixed Gear
Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Commercial
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 175; Flight Crew Total 700; Flight Crew Type 250
Situational Awareness; Confusion
Conflict NMAC
Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
Environment - Non Weather Related; Human Factors; Procedure
ATC cleared myself for the overhead approach following a twin. I responded several times stating I do not have the twin in sight and was told to break left at the departure end of the runway following the twin who was in the left break. At approximately 1;500 feet MSL I looked down as I banked to see the twin 50-100 feet directly below me breaking left. My altitude restriction assigned by the Tower was 1;200 feet. Had I descended lower to my assigned altitude; the chances of a midair collision would have been significant. My corrective action was to level off and extend further upwind.
The pilot reported a near mid-air collision at CMA while cleared for the break and following another aircraft on the same break. He had told the Tower several times that he did not have the aircraft ahead in sight.