Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172
Flight Crew Private
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 2; Flight Crew Total 98; Flight Crew Type 96
Situational Awareness; Distraction; Confusion; Communication Breakdown; Training / Qualification
Conflict NMAC; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
Human Factors
ATC cleared me for takeoff; and at the end of the clearance indicated that I was following a Cherokee. I did not hear the part about following a Cherokee; and I did not read back that part of the takeoff clearance. I also did not see the airplane taking off before me; I assume because I was doing my final checks before takeoff. After taking off; I did frequently lower my nose to check for traffic but saw none. At 700 feet MSL; I made a left turn onto the crosswind leg as I continued climbing. At about 1000 feet MSL; I suddenly observed an aircraft above me at my 2 O'Clock flying towards my aircraft. I turned left; and the other aircraft turned left. I informed the tower and the tower indicated that the other aircraft was traffic that I was supposed to be following. At the time I believed the other aircraft to be either in distress and attempting an emergency landing or mistakenly approaching runway XX from the wrong direction (opposite runway). Upon reviewing the ATC transmissions; it became clear that I did not hear the transmission from ATC regarding the Cherokee and that the Cherokee was in the pattern before I was.There are several contributing factors to this incident in my opinion. The ATC's words were not very clear and may have contributed to me not hearing him. I still cannot make out exactly what he said. It sounds like '...you have to follow me up one Cherokee.' It would also have helped if he would have requested me to acknowledge the part of the clearance regarding following a Cherokee. I also believe that; given the relatively low amount of traffic at the airport at the time; greater spacing between takeoffs was warranted. Finally; I believe that I have to pay more attention to the aircraft departing as I make my final preparations for takeoff.
C172 pilot reported a near miss with a Cherokee in the traffic pattern.