A private pilot contacted a tower; given instructions to enter a right downwind; cleared to land; nu...

Narrative:

I was on a personal flight. I flew the flight with [TRACON] flight following and was transferred to ZZZ tower about 8 miles west of the airport; where I made initial contact with the tower. When I was about 5-6 miles west; I was given instructions to enter right downwind direct; clear to land; number two behind an rv on 3 mile final. Doing the math; I figured I had about 7 miles to fly including the pattern; and the rv would be on the ground well before me. When I was downwind abeam the runway; I saw a low-wing tail dragger taxiing back parallel to the runway I was clear to land on; and figured it was the rv. Soon after turning final; ZZZ tower told me to go around for landing traffic. I complied immediately but did not see the traffic.after landing; an rv asked the tower for a phone number; and apparently was upset. I copied the number as well and called the tower just to inquire. The tower told me that the rv pilot said we got close to each other. The tower informed me the rv was extremely low and slow; at 200 ft. AGL a mile out when I was on my base. On the phone; I told the tower that as I final; I did not see other traffic. I asked if there was something I should do to avoid the situation in the future. They said I could ask for an update on any traffic if I am not number one for a runway. The tower operator witnessed it; but didn't elaborate on how close we were; so I figured we were close enough to call go-around; but not that close. I was a little upset with myself that I could get near an aircraft I did not see. I think either the aircraft was screened by the airframe (wing or nose) or the rv was so low; that it blended with the ground. A former instructor of mine was killed in a midair collision in uncontrolled airspace. As an instructor I teach my students to be vigilant for traffic.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A Private Pilot contacted a Tower; given instructions to enter a right downwind; cleared to land; number two. Turning final; the Tower issued Go Around instructions. He was uncertain how he had lost sight of the aircraft he had been instructed to follow.

Narrative: I was on a personal flight. I flew the flight with [TRACON] Flight Following and was transferred to ZZZ Tower about 8 miles west of the airport; where I made initial contact with the tower. When I was about 5-6 miles west; I was given instructions to enter right downwind direct; clear to land; number two behind an RV on 3 mile final. Doing the math; I figured I had about 7 miles to fly including the pattern; and the RV would be on the ground well before me. When I was downwind abeam the runway; I saw a low-wing tail dragger taxiing back parallel to the runway I was clear to land on; and figured it was the RV. Soon after turning final; ZZZ tower told me to go around for landing traffic. I complied immediately but did not see the traffic.After landing; an RV asked the tower for a phone number; and apparently was upset. I copied the number as well and called the tower just to inquire. The tower told me that the RV pilot said we got close to each other. The tower informed me the RV was extremely low and slow; at 200 ft. AGL a mile out when I was on my base. On the phone; I told the tower that as I final; I did not see other traffic. I asked if there was something I should do to avoid the situation in the future. They said I could ask for an update on any traffic if I am not number one for a runway. The tower operator witnessed it; but didn't elaborate on how close we were; so I figured we were close enough to call go-around; but not that close. I was a little upset with myself that I could get near an aircraft I did not see. I think either the aircraft was screened by the airframe (wing or nose) or the RV was so low; that it blended with the ground. A former instructor of mine was killed in a midair collision in uncontrolled airspace. As an instructor I teach my students to be vigilant for traffic.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site 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.

Attributes
ACN	1236738
Time
Date	201411
Local Time Of Day	1201-1800
Place
Locale Reference	ZZZ.Airport
State Reference	US
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	Amateur/Home Built/Experimental
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	Final Approach
Route In Use	Visual Approach
Flight Plan	VFR
Aircraft 2
Make Model Name	Vans Aircraft Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	Final Approach
Person 1
Function	Single Pilot
Qualification	Flight Crew Instrument Flight Crew Multiengine Flight Crew Flight Instructor Flight Crew Commercial
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 35 Flight Crew Total 1300 Flight Crew Type 250
Events
Anomaly	Conflict Airborne Conflict

A private pilot contacted a tower; given instructions to enter a right downwind; cleared to land; number two. Turning final; the tower issued go around instructions. He was uncertain how he had lost sight of the aircraft he had been instructed to follow.