Piper PA28 private pilot when entering his home base uncontrolled airport traffic pattern entered the downwind leg just ahead of a C172 on downwind causing closer than necessary separation.

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Attributes
ACN	484738
Time
Date	200009
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
State Reference	WA
Altitude	msl single value : 900
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	PA-28 Cherokee/Archer II/Dakota/Pillan/Warrior
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Navigation In Use	other vortac
Flight Phase	descent : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	approach : traffic pattern arrival : vfr
Flight Plan	None
Aircraft 2
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Navigation In Use	other
Flight Phase	descent : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	approach : traffic pattern arrival : vfr
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 40 flight time total : 155 flight time type : 150
ASRS Report	484738
Person 2
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Events
Anomaly	conflict : airborne less severe other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa other flight crewb
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	Other
Miss Distance	horizontal : 2500 vertical : 0
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Cabin Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

After an IFR training flight our aircraft was returning to home base FBO S50 VFR. Upon entering the downwind on a 45 degree, we entered into traffic pattern between 2 aircraft on downwind leg, then #2 for final. Our distance behind #1 was greater than 1 NM. Our distance ahead of #3 was 2500 ft proximity. We apparently encroached in front of #3. We did not require #3 to take evasive action, but in hindsight, could have made our pattern entry less aggressively. #3 was not visible until moments before we entered downwind. Had greater 'self-announce' radio contact been made, situation could have possibly been avoided.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PIPER PA28 PVT PLT WHEN ENTERING HIS HOME BASE UNCTLED ARPT TFC PATTERN ENTERED THE DOWNWIND LEG JUST AHEAD OF A C172 ON DOWNWIND CAUSING CLOSER THAN NECESSARY SEPARATION.

Narrative: AFTER AN IFR TRAINING FLT OUR ACFT WAS RETURNING TO HOME BASE FBO S50 VFR. UPON ENTERING THE DOWNWIND ON A 45 DEG, WE ENTERED INTO TFC PATTERN BTWN 2 ACFT ON DOWNWIND LEG, THEN #2 FOR FINAL. OUR DISTANCE BEHIND #1 WAS GREATER THAN 1 NM. OUR DISTANCE AHEAD OF #3 WAS 2500 FT PROX. WE APPARENTLY ENCROACHED IN FRONT OF #3. WE DID NOT REQUIRE #3 TO TAKE EVASIVE ACTION, BUT IN HINDSIGHT, COULD HAVE MADE OUR PATTERN ENTRY LESS AGGRESSIVELY. #3 WAS NOT VISIBLE UNTIL MOMENTS BEFORE WE ENTERED DOWNWIND. HAD GREATER 'SELF-ANNOUNCE' RADIO CONTACT BEEN MADE, SIT COULD HAVE POSSIBLY BEEN AVOIDED.

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.