Navion
Flight Crew Private; Flight Crew Instrument
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 5; Flight Crew Total 800; Flight Crew Type 130
Situational Awareness; Workload; Communication Breakdown
Conflict NMAC; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural FAR; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Flight Crew Became Reoriented; Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
Aircraft; Chart Or Publication; Procedure; Human Factors
Enroute to ZZZ; I tuned to ZZZ's UNICOM and it sounded like the pattern was very busy. [I] decided to change plans and go to ZZZ1. I got airport information from the sectional map and noticed *RP. As I approached the airport; I could hear transmissions from a Piper Pawnee departing Runway XX towing a glider. I announced entering a right downwind for Runway XX; then base Runway XX; and final Runway XX. About mid-final; the tow plane announced left downwind Runway XX. I saw the tow plane heading [towards the] opposite direction above me at about my 11:00 position. I looked inside for a few seconds to complete my final GUMP check. The tow plane announced left base Runway XX. I saw the tow plane about my 9:15 to 9:30 position approximately 300 ft. laterally and 30 ft. to 40 ft. above me. At that point I realized I must not be transmitting. As I started to do a go-around; UNICOM announced; 'You have traffic.' He replied; 'Thank you;' and immediately entered a climbing right turn. I did not try to troubleshoot the radios at that critical phase of flight. I did not feel it was safe to go around and enter the traffic pattern considering the other aircraft in the area and not being able to transmit.When getting airport information from the sectional I failed to notice the asterisk next to 'RP' and assumed right traffic. Right traffic is for gliders and gyrocopters. Airplanes use left traffic. At airports where both left and right traffic exist; I would suggest simply putting 'TP' for traffic pattern. That way neither can be assumed and would require further research. After entering CTAF in com1; I noticed the 'com1/com2' transmit selector was already in com1.I failed to adequately research airport information. I failed to manage my radios. I failed to ensure communication with UNICOM and traffic. It won't happen again. I enrolled in a ground school and I am getting additional instruction.
Pilot reported misinterpreting the airport charts and as a result; the airport's traffic pattern; resulting in a near midair collision.