C172 LNDG POC ENTERS WRONG TFC PATTERN AND EXPERIENCES CONFLICT.

Narrative

I WAS APCHING BRACKETT FIELD (POC) FROM THE NE FOR LNDG. I RECEIVED THE CURRENT ATIS WHICH INDICATED LNDG ON RWY 8L/R. DUE TO PREVAILING WINDS; LNDG RWY 24L/R IS THE NORMAL LNDG DIRECTION. I FAILED TO REGISTER THIS FACT AS I APCHED THE ARPT. THE TFC WAS VERY BUSY THIS DAY; BUT I WAS ABLE TO RPT LOCATION AND INTENTIONS TO LAND BEFORE ENTERING THE CLASS D AIRSPACE. TWR APPROVED CONTINUATION INTO THE AIRSPACE; BUT DID NOT CALL FOR L DOWNWIND ENTRY TO RWY 8L. THE TWR DID NOT ISSUE INSTRUCTIONS TO RPT AT THE TARGET SHOPPING CTR (AN OFTEN USED VISUAL REF ON THE LOS ANGELES TERMINAL AREA MAP); BUT I DID SO. NO FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS WERE GIVEN AS A RESULT OF MY RPT. I WAS POSITIONALLY SET UP FOR EITHER 45 DEG ENTRY INTO A L DOWNWIND TO RWY 8L OR R BASE TO RWY 24R. AT TPA (1000 FT AGL) WITHIN 1 MI OF THE ARPT; I WAS STILL NOT ASSIGNED AN ENTRY INTO THE TFC PATTERN. I BEGAN TURNING L TO ENTER A R BASE TO RWY 24R. IT WAS CLRLY MY ERROR TO START A R BASE ENTRY TO RWY 24R. THIS RESULTED IN A HDG DIRECTLY TOWARD DEPARTING TFC. I SAW THE TFC AT THE SAME TIME THE CTLR DEMANDED AN IMMEDIATE CLB TO 2500 FT MSL (1500 FT AGL). HE DID NOT PROVIDE A HDG BUT SAID I WOULD BE RESEQUENCED. (AFTER LNDG; I CALLED THE TWR TO DISCUSS THE INCIDENT AND LEARNED THAT HE HAD INTENDED ME TO CONTINUE S OVER THE FIELD TO BE RESEQUENCED FOR A R DOWNWIND ENTRY TO LNDG ON RWY 8R.) I INITIATED A CLBING R TURN TO COMPLY TO THE ALT ASSIGNMENT. AS I TURNED TO A NW HDG; I REALIZED I WAS CLOSE BEHIND ANOTHER ACFT WHO HAD JUST ENTERED A L DOWNWIND TO RWY 8L. (THIS ACFT MAY HAVE ALREADY BEEN IN CLOSED TFC.) THE CTLR; BY NOW VERY UPSET WITH ME; CALLED AGAIN FOR 2500 FT MSL BUT NOW A SOUTHERLY HDG. I TURNED S AND MAINTAINED 2500 FT MSL HEADING UNTIL GIVEN A CLRNC TO MAKE R TFC FOR LNDG ON RWY 8R. IN THE PROCESS; I CAME WITHIN APPROX 400 FT VERT SEPARATION FROM THE DEPARTING ACFT (PROBABLY A C172 OR C182). WE WERE CLOSING NEARLY HEAD-ON (WITHIN 30 DEGS). AFTER MY SUBSEQUENT R TURN; I WAS APPROX 500 FT BEHIND AND 100 FT ABOVE THE ACFT (PROBABLY A PIPER CHEROKEE) IN DOWNWIND TO RWY 8L.