Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172
Flight Crew Student
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 15.5; Flight Crew Total 41.4; Flight Crew Type 41.4
Workload; Communication Breakdown; Confusion; Situational Awareness; Training / Qualification
Conflict NMAC; Deviation - Track / Heading All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance
Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance; Air Traffic Control Issued Advisory / Alert; Flight Crew Became Reoriented
Procedure; Weather; Human Factors
This was a solo practice flight in the traffic pattern.  I was practicing stop and go landings.  I completed pre-flight start up and all pre-flight checklists.  I was cleared to taxi runway 15 and it was uneventful.  I was given takeoff clearance and told to make right hand traffic.  I completed the pattern; and after one stop and go; I requested to make left hand traffic because it is more comfortable to me. This was request was granted by ATC.  I completed four more patterns making left traffic.  On the sixth takeoff; I continued to make left traffic.  After reviewing the tapes; I was made aware that ATC said to make right traffic; and I acknowledged it.  I am not sure why I made left traffic; it may have been because I am a student and I was too focused on my flying and was in a left hand traffic routine.  The right traffic order did not sink in.  I assure you that it was not to disobey orders. I completed the sixth pattern without complaint from ATC.  I received clearance to land with the option and was never instructed which hand traffic to make.  I continued to make left hand traffic without complaint from ATC on my seventh pattern.  Unbeknownst to me; a near miss occurred while in this pattern.  I received clearance to land and because it began to rain; I decided that it would be my last pattern.  In route of taxing to hangar; ATC requested that I call them because there was an occurrence.  After contacting ATC; I was made aware of the near miss.  I understand that I made a mistake on the sixth pattern by not making right traffic.  From this I have learned a life lesson and received additional education from my instructor.  I strongly believe that because of this event; a situation like this will never happen again.  I believe that people are human and make mistakes; and from these mistakes the greatest lessons are learned.  I ask for your forgiveness; I have learned from this mistake; and I assure you that this will not happen again.
A student pilot reported making multiple left hand closed pattern approaches but was then told to make right traffic. After he failed to turn right downwind ATC notified the Pilot of a near miss.