PA28 pilot reported two aircraft entered the downwind leg at similar locations at non-towered airpor...

Narrative:

Pleasure flight with 3 souls on board. I was PIC. I announced my 10 mile and then 5 mile location for approach once in proximity to ZZZ. The airport was busy with multiple departing and arriving targets using runway xx. A skyhawk was also inbound and announced its position which was about 200 feet above my indicated altitude; same distance and approximate location from airport (2 miles north of the field at that point). I transmitted 'entering the left 45 for xx and looking for that inbound traffic' as I was entering the 45. As a precaution; I entered the downwind lower than pattern altitude to avoid potential conflict; by 300-500 feet. I called my left downwind for runway xx and about 5-10 seconds later the skyhawk also called 'left downwind for xx'. About that same time; I had him in sight; approximately 200 feet horizontal/slightly ahead and about 300 feet above my location near midfield on downwind I announced; 'skyhawk I have you in sight'. He replied; 'cherokee I don't have you in sight yet'. I responded with; 'skyhawk; you are on my 3 o'clock just above me'. The skyhawk responded with 'cherokee I have you in sight now'. I then requested; 'skyhawk if you could extend your downwind; I'll turn my base here shortly'. I do not recall if there was a reply from the skyhawk at that point. Landing was uneventful and I cleared the active as the skyhawk pilot was on short final.my low pattern entry evasion had prevented a potential incident. The skyhawk essentially overtook me on the downwind; appearing out of sequence (as I had announced my traffic position reports prior to his and was also at a lower altitude). The owner of the local flight school there in ZZZ approached me when I was leaving and mentioned 'I came in pretty low' on the pattern. I responded with; 'did you see the airplane right above me?' I don't recall his response after that; although he didn't return a friendly wave as I was leaving.the return flight was uneventful.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PA28 pilot reported two aircraft entered the downwind leg at similar locations at non-towered airport. First aircraft flew a lower traffic pattern altitude as a precaution which prevented a NMAC.

Narrative: Pleasure flight with 3 souls on board. I was PIC. I announced my 10 mile and then 5 mile location for approach once in proximity to ZZZ. The airport was busy with multiple departing and arriving targets using Runway XX. A Skyhawk was also inbound and announced its position which was about 200 feet above my indicated altitude; same distance and approximate location from airport (2 miles north of the field at that point). I transmitted 'entering the left 45 for XX and looking for that inbound traffic' as I was entering the 45. As a precaution; I entered the downwind lower than pattern altitude to avoid potential conflict; by 300-500 feet. I called my left downwind for Runway XX and about 5-10 seconds later the Skyhawk also called 'left downwind for XX'. About that same time; I had him in sight; approximately 200 feet horizontal/slightly ahead and about 300 feet above my location near midfield on downwind I announced; 'Skyhawk I have you in sight'. He replied; 'Cherokee I don't have you in sight yet'. I responded with; 'Skyhawk; you are on my 3 o'clock just above me'. The Skyhawk responded with 'Cherokee I have you in sight now'. I then requested; 'Skyhawk if you could extend your downwind; I'll turn my base here shortly'. I do not recall if there was a reply from the Skyhawk at that point. Landing was uneventful and I cleared the active as the Skyhawk pilot was on short final.My low pattern entry evasion had prevented a potential incident. The Skyhawk essentially overtook me on the downwind; appearing out of sequence (as I had announced my traffic position reports prior to his and was also at a lower altitude). The owner of the local flight school there in ZZZ approached me when I was leaving and mentioned 'I came in pretty low' on the pattern. I responded with; 'did you see the airplane right above me?' I don't recall his response after that; although he didn't return a friendly wave as I was leaving.The return flight was uneventful.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.

Attributes
ACN	1586830
Time
Date	201810
Local Time Of Day	0601-1200
Place
Locale Reference	ZZZ.Airport
State Reference	US
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	PA-28 Cherokee/Archer/Dakota/Pillan/Warrior
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	Initial Approach
Route In Use	Visual Approach
Flight Plan	None
Aircraft 2
Make Model Name	Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	Initial Approach
Person 1
Function	Pilot Flying
Qualification	Flight Crew Private
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 20 Flight Crew Total 204 Flight Crew Type 203
Events
Anomaly	Conflict NMAC Deviation - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Miss Distance	Horizontal 200 Vertical 300

PA28 pilot reported two aircraft entered the downwind leg at similar locations at non-towered airport. First aircraft flew a lower traffic pattern altitude as a precaution which prevented a near midair collision.