General aviation pilot reported a traffic conflict with multiple other aircraft while entering the traffic pattern at SZP in visual conditions. The pilot maneuvered above the traffic pattern altitude to avoid the non-communicating aircraft in the pattern.
Synopsis
General aviation pilot reported a traffic conflict with multiple other aircraft while entering the traffic pattern at SZP in visual conditions. The pilot maneuvered above the traffic pattern altitude to avoid the non-communicating aircraft in the pattern.
Narrative
I was approaching from the northwest to cross over the extended RW center line west of the airport and join the left downwind to RW22 for landing. I made several calls to announce my positions. Before approaching the airport there were no other radio calls or traffic targets on the map. Upon approaching the center line i made a final call to ask if there was any traffic in the pattern. I received one reply 'Yep'. I then asked 'where is the traffic'. The response was; 'there's about five'. Then; I heard some other aircraft starting to call out their positions. One aircraft was on a straight out departure and was to my right. Then; another traffic called out; saying they were turning crosswind. However upon looking there were 2 aircraft to my left. One aircraft was turning crosswind. The other was either it's starting to turn crosswind; or maneuvering away from the straight out path. I climbed up to give space for those aircraft. Due to the surrounding mountain terrain; it was not possible to do a 45° entry to the pattern as would be standard. And it was also not possible to move away from the downwind Leg. I continued down the downwind leg at a higher altitude than the other traffic.Then; turned back across the east side of the airport to try reentry to the pattern. Some one else was commenting on the radio about not descending in the pattern and how dangerous the situation was; which limited the availability to Talk to the other aircraft to announce positions. After landing; I noticed there were several airplanes that were hot dogging and departing two planes at a time and doing many type patterns and maneuvers around the airport. It appeared a lot of these airplanes did not have ADSB and we're not properly reporting their positions;and were creating a more dangerous situation
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.