NMAC BTWN 2 PIPER PA28 TYPE ACFT JUST NEAR THE TFC PATTERN OF A NON CTLED ARPT. THE RPTR WAS TURNING AND DSNDING TO ENTER THE DOWNWIND LEG ON A 45 DEG ANGLE WHEN HE OBSERVED THE OTHER ACFT COMING ALMOST STRAIGHT BY OVERHEAD!

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I FLEW OVER I19 (GREENE COUNTY) AT 2500 FT MSL TO DETERMINE WINDS/ACTIVE RWY AND OBSERVE ANY TFC. THERE WAS A SINGLE ACFT IN THE PATTERN; CLBING THROUGH SEVERAL HUNDRED FT ON TKOF. THIS WAS NOT THE OTHER ACFT INVOLVED IN THE NEAR MIDAIR. I THEN PROCEEDED SEVERAL MI S TO DSND TO PATTERN ALT AND SET UP A 45 DEG ENTRY TO THE DOWNWIND FOR RWY 25. I WAS IN A L TURN TO THE N; DSNDING THROUGH APPROX 2000 FT MSL AND WAS SEARCHING FOR THE ACFT I HAD OBSERVED AT I19 WHEN THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED. I PASSED ALMOST HEAD ON TO WHAT APPEARED TO BE A PA28 (WARRIOR; ARCHER; ETC) APPROX 200 FT ABOVE AND 50 FT TO THE L OF MY ACFT. THE OTHER ACFT WOULD HAVE BEEN BLOCKED FROM MY VIEW FOR PART OF THE TURN BUT SHOULD HAVE BEEN VISIBLE TO ME LONG BEFORE I SAW IT. MY ACFT SHOULD ALSO HAVE BEEN VISIBLE TO THE OTHER PLT. IF HE OR SHE TOOK ANY EVASIVE ACTION IT WAS BEFORE I SAW THE OTHER PLANE. AFTER PASSING THIS ACFT; I FINALLY REESTABLISHED CONTACT WITH THE ONE I WAS LOOKING FOR WHICH WAS NO FACTOR ANYMORE. I HAVE BEEN FLYING PREDOMINANTLY IFR LATELY AND OBVIOUSLY NEED TO PAY MORE ATTN TO CLRING. I SHOULD KNOW BETTER AND WILL CORRECT MY PERFORMANCE.