Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172
Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Flight Instructor; Flight Crew Commercial
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 65; Flight Crew Total 2115; Flight Crew Type 850
Communication Breakdown; Situational Awareness
Conflict NMAC
Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
Human Factors
While on downwind during a training flight in the traffic pattern during a time of very heavy activity; as I began to turn base there was another aircraft slightly above and behind me. I immediately took evasive action by descending and turning away from the other aircraft. We had both been announcing our positions on CTAF but were not aware of how close we were to each other.
I was on downwind with a student and we were just about to call our base turn when another airplane called turning base. I started to look for it and had just pushed the push to talk button when I saw it low and to our right; so instead of 'where are you' in surprise I said 'Oh [expletive]' and then saw that he had seen us too and was starting to dive left so I took the controls from the student and climbed right. There was no further conflict. Prior to this happening we had approached the airport on the upwind; then crosswind; then downwind. While we were turning crosswind a plane on the runway called their departure so I was looking for them to make sure there was no conflict with them. The other plane in the pattern had made a radio call that he was inbound to the downwind; but due to distraction with the plane on the runway I never heard him say he was entering downwind and I assumed he was far ahead of us. We had made radio calls at each turn. I did not see him on downwind until we were ready to turn base. I do not think entering a pattern from upwind is a good idea; we should only enter to the downwind.
Two instructor pilots; both flying separate C172 aircraft; reported a NMAC with each other in the pattern.