Flight Crew Private; Flight Crew Instrument
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 1; Flight Crew Total 884; Flight Crew Type 626
Communication Breakdown; Confusion; Situational Awareness
ATC Issue All Types; Conflict NMAC; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance
Flight Crew Became Reoriented; Flight Crew Returned To Clearance; Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
Environment - Non Weather Related; Weather; Procedure
My takeoff was from full length and my clearance was; 'XXX; cleared for takeoff; make right traffic.' Since I was not told; 'Traffic you're following is' and the aircraft that took off ahead of me from mid-field was handed off to departure; I assumed that there was no one else in the pattern that would be a factor.As I turned crosswind; someone else called downwind and tower told him that the aircraft behind him just cut him off. We saw each other and took appropriate evasive action. The bases were ragged and possibly made spotting targets from the cab difficult as evidenced by the controller's subsequent misunderstanding as to my sequence and then the request that all aircraft in the pattern squawk 1200 Mode C.I could have made life easier (and safer) for everyone had I assumed NOTHING and asked; 'Where is my traffic?' or 'How many aircraft in the pattern?'
A pilot took off at ISP for closed pattern work and after turning downwind had a near miss with an aircraft already in the pattern which Tower had not pointed out.