Lsa pilot reports an near midair collision with a C140 on very short final. The potential collision ...

Narrative:

On my way home my right door popped open. I tried to close it; but could not. There was some tail buffet and I slowed down to try and relieve that. I was near [an] airport and decided to land to close door. There were two other aircraft in or near the pattern. I announced I was entering the pattern to land and it appeared that I was number three. I looked in vain for the aircraft that was ahead of me; but I could not make a visual! I saw the number 1 aircraft turn base -- but still could not see the aircraft in front of me! I heard the number 2 aircraft announce turning base and still no visual! I flew a long down wind then announced I was turning base -- I still did not have a visual of the number 2 aircraft. I was somewhat high and had a steep approach and still could not see the number 2 aircraft (a cessna 140). When I started to flair a voice on the radio said; 'low wing pull up your going to crash!' I did immediately -- I still did not see the number 2 aircraft. I was somewhat shaken and decided to continue on my way to home base; where I landed. It was not until today that the owner of the cessna 140 contacted me and told me how very close the near miss was! At no time did I have a visual of the number 2 aircraft (cessna 140). I did see the number 1 aircraft; also a cessna; turn base. All aircraft in the pattern in radio contact. I believe at one point I asked the number 2 aircraft his position; but still could not get a visual. This near miss was from reports very close! I did not see it! I am forever grateful to the person on the ground -- who used his head and radio and helped avert a catastrophe! How could this have been avoided? I should have gone around when I did not see a visual! I should not have assumed that I had enough space from the preceding aircraft. The fault was mine entirely.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: LSA pilot reports an NMAC with a C140 on very short final. The potential collision is detected by a pilot on the ground who calls for the reporter to go-around.

Narrative: On my way home my right door popped open. I tried to close it; but could not. There was some tail buffet and I slowed down to try and relieve that. I was near [an] airport and decided to land to close door. There were two other aircraft in or near the pattern. I announced I was entering the pattern to land and it appeared that I was number three. I looked in vain for the aircraft that was ahead of me; but I could not make a visual! I saw the number 1 aircraft turn base -- but still could not see the aircraft in front of me! I heard the number 2 aircraft announce turning base and still no visual! I flew a long down wind then announced I was turning base -- I still did not have a visual of the number 2 aircraft. I was somewhat high and had a steep approach and still could not see the number 2 aircraft (a Cessna 140). When I started to flair a voice on the radio said; 'low wing pull up your going to crash!' I did immediately -- I still did not see the number 2 aircraft. I was somewhat shaken and decided to continue on my way to home base; where I landed. It was not until today that the owner of the Cessna 140 contacted me and told me how very close the near miss was! At no time did I have a visual of the number 2 aircraft (Cessna 140). I did see the number 1 aircraft; also a Cessna; turn base. All aircraft in the pattern in radio contact. I believe at one point I asked the number 2 aircraft his position; but still could not get a visual. This near miss was from reports very close! I did not see it! I am forever grateful to the person on the ground -- who used his head and radio and helped avert a catastrophe! How could this have been avoided? I should have gone around when I did not see a visual! I should not have assumed that I had enough space from the preceding aircraft. The fault was mine entirely.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2013 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	1105533
Time
Date	201307
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	Light Sport Aircraft
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	Final Approach
Route In Use	Visual Approach
Flight Plan	None
Aircraft 2
Make Model Name	Cessna 140
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	Final Approach
Route In Use	Visual Approach
Person 1
Function	Pilot Flying Single Pilot
Qualification	Flight Crew Commercial
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 10 Flight Crew Total 5000 Flight Crew Type 50
Events
Anomaly	Conflict NMAC
Miss Distance	Horizontal 10 Vertical 10

Lsa pilot reports an near midair collision with a C140 on very short final. The potential collision is detected by a pilot on the ground who calls for the reporter to go-around.