Narrative:

I was on a solo flight doing touch and goes at my home airport; which is a busy general aviation airport. I was instructed to follow a cessna and cleared to land. I must have missed that I was #3 cleared to land in the pattern rather than #2 and continued to follow a cessna that I had in my line of site. There was an another cessna in the pattern that I did not see. I turned final; then heard on the radio that I had cut off the aircraft that was cleared in front of me. The aircraft that I had cut off went around. I then clarified whether I should go around or continue to land. I was cleared for touch and gos; and I continued in the pattern without further incident. After the incident I was informed by my instructor; who was observing; that there was roughly 100 feet of horizontal separation between my aircraft and the aircraft I had cut off.contributing factors: the pattern was busier than my previous solo flights and it was a bit bumpier than I was expecting. There was probably an element of nerves involved. It had been a while since my last solo flight. I was so focused on making the landing; listening for 'cleared;' and which runway; that I wasn't paying enough attention to the sequencing.in the future I need to pay closer attention to the ATC sequencing and avoid the 'tunnel vision' that led me to believe I was following the correct aircraft.I need to ensure that I visually check final before turning. In retrospect I may have seen the other aircraft and assumed it was on the parallel approach. If there's any question in mind I need to contact ATC and confirm.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PA-28 pilot reported he experienced a NMAC while on final in the traffic pattern at an uncontrolled airport.

Narrative: I was on a solo flight doing touch and goes at my home airport; which is a busy general aviation airport. I was instructed to follow a Cessna and cleared to land. I must have missed that I was #3 cleared to land in the pattern rather than #2 and continued to follow a Cessna that I had in my line of site. There was an another Cessna in the pattern that I did not see. I turned final; then heard on the radio that I had cut off the aircraft that was cleared in front of me. The aircraft that I had cut off went around. I then clarified whether I should go around or continue to land. I was cleared for touch and gos; and I continued in the pattern without further incident. After the incident I was informed by my instructor; who was observing; that there was roughly 100 feet of horizontal separation between my aircraft and the aircraft I had cut off.Contributing factors: The pattern was busier than my previous solo flights and it was a bit bumpier than I was expecting. There was probably an element of nerves involved. It had been a while since my last solo flight. I was so focused on making the landing; listening for 'cleared;' and which runway; that I wasn't paying enough attention to the sequencing.In the future I need to pay closer attention to the ATC sequencing and avoid the 'tunnel vision' that led me to believe I was following the correct aircraft.I need to ensure that I visually check final before turning. In retrospect I may have seen the other aircraft and assumed it was on the parallel approach. If there's any question in mind I need to contact ATC and confirm.

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.