Date: 201807
Local time of day: 1201-1800
Location: ZZZ.Airport, US
Flight conditions: VMC
Light: Daylight
Aircraft: Small Aircraft; High Wing; 1 Eng; Fixed Gear
Operator: Other Skydiving
Operating under: Part 91
Flight plan: VFR
Mission: Skydiving
Flight phase: Initial Approach
Airspace: Class E ZZZ
ATC / advisory: CTAF ZZZ
Reporter organization: Personal
Reporter function: Pilot Flying; Single Pilot
Reporter qualification: Flight Crew Commercial; Flight Crew Instrument
Human factors: Communication Breakdown; Situational Awareness
Anomaly: Conflict NMAC; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Other / Unknown
Detector: Person Flight Crew
When detected: In-flight
Result: Flight Crew Took Evasive Action; General Flight Cancelled / Delayed
Contributing factors: Airspace Structure; Environment - Non Weather Related; Human Factors; Procedure
Primary problem: Human Factors

Narrative: The event occurred during the descent into ZZZ after I had completed a skydiving jump run above the airport. The descent was performed while utilizing guidelines of local airport noise abatement procedures and company Standard Operating Procedures (SOP). I was in contact with Approach during the jump run and through most of the descent. After switching frequencies from Approach who was providing flight following assistance; to CTAF; I made an initial position report and altitude on CTAF. I was at a distance approximately 3 to 4 miles Southeast which gave me an unobstructed view of the crosswind leg; the 45 leg; and the downwind leg of the traffic pattern.After surveying the traffic pattern for other aircraft; as well as listening for aircraft position reports on the CTAF frequency; I entered the traffic pattern at approximately 2000 ft in a descent down to 1;200 feet; pattern altitude. As I reported a midfield downwind; an aircraft replied stating that I was descending above them. I immediately arrested my descent at 1;500 feet. I announced to the aircraft; on CTAF; that I was at 1;500 feet and asked for further clarification of the position of the other aircraft in question. They replied that they were below me. After visual contact was established; I announced; on CTAF; my intentions to make a right; 90 degree turn to avoid the aircraft and exit the pattern; which I promptly did. I later re-entered the pattern and landed. Based on observations; it appeared I was approximately 400 feet above the aircraft when I passed directly overhead at an overtaking speed which subsequently put me ahead of the aircraft.I believed to have adequately visually scanned for traffic but apparently was unable to detect the aircraft in question before it was overflown. A possible contributing factor was the silver color of the aircraft that blended in well with the surroundings environment. The position of the sun could be a contributory factor in that it's lower angle; relative to the horizon; have made seeing aircraft in the pattern more difficult. At the time of this report submission; it is unknown if the other aircraft made position reports; on CTAF; that would have alerted me to the position of the aircraft.




Synopsis: Skydive pilot entering the traffic pattern at a non-towered airport reported another aircraft advised them they were descending on top of them.