Narrative:

Called the tower for landing instructions, (class D) position was around 7 mi southwest of airport. Told to report a 3 mi final for runway 05. Also was issued a landing sequence, #2, 'following another aircraft,' acknowledged both. I was initially scanning for the preceding aircraft but could not find it. Several mins later I asked the tower where the aircraft was at. The tower replied '1/2 mi final.' at this time or shortly thereafter I reported a 3 mi final. I was, 'cleared to land, #2.' thinking that there was enough distance between myself and the preceding aircraft, based on the tower's report, I failed to scan aggressively for the preceding plane. Then I caught up to the preceding aircraft at approximately a 1.5 mi final. He was above me and off to my side. He was still some distance in front of me too, approximately 200 ft. Had I been scanning more aggressively I would have seen him sooner. I requested a '360 degree' from the tower for separation and it was approved. He saw me re-established on final and cleared me to land again. At the completion of the 360 degree turn there was more than adequate separation. The tower cleared me to the ramp and nothing was said by either the tower or the preceding aircraft. I placed too much reliance on the tower's accuracy and failed to continue to scan aggressively for the preceding aircraft. I do understand that once issued a landing sequence that it is my responsibility to maintain safe separation between myself and any preceding aircraft. In the future I will plan not to assume the accuracy of a tower or other pilot's position report and plan to fly more defensively.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMA HAS NMAC WITH SECOND SMA IN TFC PATTERN.

Narrative: CALLED THE TWR FOR LNDG INSTRUCTIONS, (CLASS D) POS WAS AROUND 7 MI SW OF ARPT. TOLD TO RPT A 3 MI FINAL FOR RWY 05. ALSO WAS ISSUED A LNDG SEQUENCE, #2, 'FOLLOWING ANOTHER ACFT,' ACKNOWLEDGED BOTH. I WAS INITIALLY SCANNING FOR THE PRECEDING ACFT BUT COULD NOT FIND IT. SEVERAL MINS LATER I ASKED THE TWR WHERE THE ACFT WAS AT. THE TWR REPLIED '1/2 MI FINAL.' AT THIS TIME OR SHORTLY THEREAFTER I RPTED A 3 MI FINAL. I WAS, 'CLRED TO LAND, #2.' THINKING THAT THERE WAS ENOUGH DISTANCE BTWN MYSELF AND THE PRECEDING ACFT, BASED ON THE TWR'S RPT, I FAILED TO SCAN AGGRESSIVELY FOR THE PRECEDING PLANE. THEN I CAUGHT UP TO THE PRECEDING ACFT AT APPROX A 1.5 MI FINAL. HE WAS ABOVE ME AND OFF TO MY SIDE. HE WAS STILL SOME DISTANCE IN FRONT OF ME TOO, APPROX 200 FT. HAD I BEEN SCANNING MORE AGGRESSIVELY I WOULD HAVE SEEN HIM SOONER. I REQUESTED A '360 DEG' FROM THE TWR FOR SEPARATION AND IT WAS APPROVED. HE SAW ME RE-ESTABLISHED ON FINAL AND CLRED ME TO LAND AGAIN. AT THE COMPLETION OF THE 360 DEG TURN THERE WAS MORE THAN ADEQUATE SEPARATION. THE TWR CLRED ME TO THE RAMP AND NOTHING WAS SAID BY EITHER THE TWR OR THE PRECEDING ACFT. I PLACED TOO MUCH RELIANCE ON THE TWR'S ACCURACY AND FAILED TO CONTINUE TO SCAN AGGRESSIVELY FOR THE PRECEDING ACFT. I DO UNDERSTAND THAT ONCE ISSUED A LNDG SEQUENCE THAT IT IS MY RESPONSIBILITY TO MAINTAIN SAFE SEPARATION BTWN MYSELF AND ANY PRECEDING ACFT. IN THE FUTURE I WILL PLAN NOT TO ASSUME THE ACCURACY OF A TWR OR OTHER PLT'S POS RPT AND PLAN TO FLY MORE DEFENSIVELY.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 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.