PA28 pilot experienced a near midair collision while entering VFR traffic pattern.

Attributes
ACN	744658
Time
Date	200707
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : lee.airport
State Reference	FL
Altitude	agl single value : 800
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : lee.tower
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	PA-28 Cherokee/Archer II/Dakota/Pillan/Warrior
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	approach : traffic pattern
Flight Plan	None
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	tower : lee.tower
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	PA-28 Cherokee/Archer II/Dakota/Pillan/Warrior
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : flight engineer pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 100 flight time total : 13000 flight time type : 200
ASRS Report	744658
Events
Anomaly	conflict : nmac
Resolutory Action	flight crew : took precautionary avoidance action
Miss Distance	horizontal : 50 vertical : 20
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

At 3 NM ssw of lee; local cleared me to enter a right downwind from a 45 degree entry for runway 13. Local also advised that I was to follow another cherokee; which was on a right crosswind. I advised local at that point that I was looking for the traffic. At 1 1/2 NM ssw of runway 13; I saw the cherokee at my 2 O'clock position; slightly below my altitude on a very wide downwind. I then climbed slightly to increase the distance between the 2 of us. I then turned to enter downwind behind the cherokee. I believe the local controller had provided proper separation; but did not realize the other aircraft would fly a downwind that wide. If he had flown a normal sized pattern; the near miss would not have happened.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PA28 PLT EXPERIENCED A NMAC WHILE ENTERING VFR TFC PATTERN.

Narrative: AT 3 NM SSW OF LEE; LCL CLRED ME TO ENTER A R DOWNWIND FROM A 45 DEG ENTRY FOR RWY 13. LCL ALSO ADVISED THAT I WAS TO FOLLOW ANOTHER CHEROKEE; WHICH WAS ON A R XWIND. I ADVISED LCL AT THAT POINT THAT I WAS LOOKING FOR THE TFC. AT 1 1/2 NM SSW OF RWY 13; I SAW THE CHEROKEE AT MY 2 O'CLOCK POS; SLIGHTLY BELOW MY ALT ON A VERY WIDE DOWNWIND. I THEN CLBED SLIGHTLY TO INCREASE THE DISTANCE BTWN THE 2 OF US. I THEN TURNED TO ENTER DOWNWIND BEHIND THE CHEROKEE. I BELIEVE THE LCL CTLR HAD PROVIDED PROPER SEPARATION; BUT DID NOT REALIZE THE OTHER ACFT WOULD FLY A DOWNWIND THAT WIDE. IF HE HAD FLOWN A NORMAL SIZED PATTERN; THE NEAR MISS WOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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.