RPTR HAS NEAR MID AIR.

Narrative

THE NEAR MISS HAPPENED 3 NM N OF HOUSTON GULF ARPT (SPX) AT 700 FT. DUE TO AN UNUSUAL SPRING TIME COOL FRONT; THE WIND WAS FROM THE N AT APPROX 15-20 KTS; MAKING A NBOUND DEP NECESSARY. DURING CLBOUT I LEVELED OFF AT 700 FT IN ORDER TO EASILY LOCATE A HOUSE ON THE GND (FOR MY PAX). AT THIS POINT I WAS NO LONGER IN THE IMMEDIATE VICINITY OF SPX'S TFC PATTERN. I COULD NOT PROCEED FURTHER N; HOWEVER DUE TO THE CTL RING AROUND ELLINGTON AIRFIELD (EFD). HAVING LOCATED THE POINT (ON THE GND) I BEGAN A TURN ABOUT THE POINT. DURING MY SECOND AND FINAL TURN; MY COPLT CALLED 'TFC!' APPROX 75-100 FT ABOVE US I SAW A WHITE MOONEY (SINGLE ENG) IN A STEEP L BANK. I WAS ALREADY ENGAGED IN A L TURN - I INCREASED MY BANK SUBSTANTIALLY; ADDED FULL PWR; AND DISCONTINUED MY SIGHT- SEEING ACTIVITIES OVER THE HOUSE. I HAD NO TIME FOR EVASIVE ACTION - I COULD ONLY CONTINUE THE ATTITUDE I WAS ALREADY IN; THEN PROCEED TO QUICKLY LEAVE THE AREA. IT ALL HAPPENED TOO FAST. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS: I WAS FLYING A HIGH WING C-172 AT A LOWER ALT THAN THE LOW WING MOONEY. ALSO; THERE IS NOT MUCH AREA BTWN SPX AND EFD. THE AIRSPACE IS SMALL AND CRAMPED. HUMAN PERFORMANCE: I DID NOT HAVE TIME TO THINK; BLINK; OR EVADE. I REACTED CALMLY AND DELIBERATELY. I INTERVIEWED A GND WITNESS WHO SAID 'THE WHITE AIRPLANE CAME OUT OF NOWHERE.' HE SAID HE THOUGHT WE WERE GOING TO COLLIDE. THE COLOR OF MY AIRPLANE WAS BLUE OVER WHITE - IT IS VERY VISIBLE FROM DISTANCES. WX CONDITIONS: APPROX 4500 FT LIGHT OVCST; GUSTY WINDS FROM THE N; 15 MI RPTED VISIBILITY. POSSIBLE CAUSE: THE INABILITY OF BOTH PLTS TO SEE EACH OTHER. I CANNOT THINK OF ANY BETTER REASON FOR THIS INCIDENT.