Flight Crew Private
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 15; Flight Crew Total 425; Flight Crew Type 60
Communication Breakdown; Confusion; Situational Awareness
Conflict NMAC; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Inflight Event / Encounter Weather / Turbulence
Air Traffic Control Separated Traffic; Flight Crew Became Reoriented; Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
Human Factors; Procedure; Weather
I was in the pattern in a C182T practicing touch and goes. During the previous landing I was behind a PA-28. On the upwind of that landing the Tower was switching numerous other aircraft on our runway to the secondary Tower frequency but I did not hear a switch for myself and I don't remember if the PA-28 was switched or not. Due to the smoke and hazy conditions it was hard to keep visual on the aircraft in the pattern; including the PA-28 who I assumed was still in front of me in the pattern. Upon reaching 6300 ft. MSL which is approximately 500 ft. AGL; I began my normal crosswind turn. Upon entering the turn I noticed the PA-28 at my 9 o'clock headed in the downwind; approx. 100 ft. above me and 500 ft. from me horizontally. I widened the crosswind and stopped my climb momentarily to keep this traffic in sight. I also told the Tower on the radio I had visual on the traffic and was trying to stay out of his way; and the Tower replied 'You've been behind him the whole time'. I complied with the Towers instruction to widen the downwind to remain east of the interstate; and after an extended downwind I was then cleared for another uneventful touch and go.I believe the following contributed to this situation:1) My loss in Situational awareness as my head was focused on all of the radio traffic from Tower switching other aircraft and wondering why I wasn't being switched. I believe the Tower might have also lost situational awareness and not asked for the aircraft in front to turn an early enough crosswind and/or me to continue upwind as they had on previous touch and goes prior to this to keep us separated and in line.2) The smoky conditions making it extremely hard to see other traffic against the gray/white background; which could have made it difficult for any of us involved (me; the other pilot; or ATC) to successfully avoid any potential conflict.
Pilot reported taking evasive action to avoid a collision with another aircraft.