Single Engine Pilot reported entering a conflicting downwind due to confusion and complacency resulted in a taking evasive action avoiding a NMAC.

Date: 2023-02 · Aircraft: Small Aircraft; High Wing; 1 Eng; Fixed Gear · Phase: approach

Anomalies: conflict-nmac|deviation-track-heading-all-types|deviation-discrepancy-procedural-published-material-policy

Synopsis

Single Engine Pilot reported entering a conflicting downwind due to confusion and complacency resulted in a taking evasive action avoiding a NMAC.

Narrative

First flight after a short break. Flight Training out of a part 141 flight school. A flight school at ZZZ1 uses a nearby uncontrolled airport for flight training (ZZZ). Prevailing winds are from 300 and thus most training takes place on Runway XX. On this day winds were from 100; and I knew I should be landing on Runway XY; also another plane was on frequency landing Runway XY. I lined up for the left downwind Runway XX and the other plane in the pattern was right downwind for Runway XY. Therefore we were on a collision course and the other plane saw me first and avoided me. We were both making traffic calls and I was calling that I was landing Runway XY; I still did not realize I was on the wrong runway.This incident was completely human error on my part. I knew the direction I should be flying but my instincts took me to line up for Runway XX when I should have been on Runway XY.This is the first time this has happened for me at any airport solo; I believe I was too comfortable at a familiar airport and became complacent.I believe one solution could be for flight schools with a common training airport to put a greater emphasis on going to other airports for pattern work. This way students learn to not fly the same route using repetition. This way when conditions change they are used to adapting and don't fall back on habits.

Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.