Narrative:

I was on a VFR practice localizer approach to runway 31 at dubuque, ia (dbq). Reporting the OM, I was asked to call a 2 mi final. I was working hard to keep the CDI near center and was late recognizing that the DME was no longer making sense. I stopped the descent and asked my safety pilot if we were at 2 mi yet. He said we were over the numbers. I flipped up my hood, began to call the tower and saw the other aircraft. It was below me at the 1 O'clock position. Rattled, I landed and was asked to phone the tower from the FBO. We had a good open conversation. I admitted my mistakes. He stressed the importance of position reports in a non-radar environment. I will make two changes to assure better future results. I was 20 days outside the 6-MONTH window for instrument currency. While I took my instrument training at dubuque and was familiar with the environment, I was also rusty. If that happens again, I will warm up and test myself on a less sensitive VOR approach before flying a localizer or ILS. Before engine start I had briefed my safety pilot on the approachs I planned to fly. From now on, I'll be sure they are clear on the help I need from them. In-flight, if I'm asked to call 2 mi, I'll ask him or her to remind me if it looks like we are getting close.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PA28 EXPERIENCED NMAC DURING APCH TO DBQ AT APPROX 2100 FT MSL.

Narrative: I WAS ON A VFR PRACTICE LOC APCH TO RWY 31 AT DUBUQUE, IA (DBQ). RPTING THE OM, I WAS ASKED TO CALL A 2 MI FINAL. I WAS WORKING HARD TO KEEP THE CDI NEAR CTR AND WAS LATE RECOGNIZING THAT THE DME WAS NO LONGER MAKING SENSE. I STOPPED THE DSCNT AND ASKED MY SAFETY PLT IF WE WERE AT 2 MI YET. HE SAID WE WERE OVER THE NUMBERS. I FLIPPED UP MY HOOD, BEGAN TO CALL THE TWR AND SAW THE OTHER ACFT. IT WAS BELOW ME AT THE 1 O'CLOCK POS. RATTLED, I LANDED AND WAS ASKED TO PHONE THE TWR FROM THE FBO. WE HAD A GOOD OPEN CONVERSATION. I ADMITTED MY MISTAKES. HE STRESSED THE IMPORTANCE OF POS RPTS IN A NON-RADAR ENVIRONMENT. I WILL MAKE TWO CHANGES TO ASSURE BETTER FUTURE RESULTS. I WAS 20 DAYS OUTSIDE THE 6-MONTH WINDOW FOR INST CURRENCY. WHILE I TOOK MY INST TRAINING AT DUBUQUE AND WAS FAMILIAR WITH THE ENVIRONMENT, I WAS ALSO RUSTY. IF THAT HAPPENS AGAIN, I WILL WARM UP AND TEST MYSELF ON A LESS SENSITIVE VOR APCH BEFORE FLYING A LOC OR ILS. BEFORE ENG START I HAD BRIEFED MY SAFETY PLT ON THE APCHS I PLANNED TO FLY. FROM NOW ON, I'LL BE SURE THEY ARE CLR ON THE HELP I NEED FROM THEM. INFLT, IF I'M ASKED TO CALL 2 MI, I'LL ASK HIM OR HER TO REMIND ME IF IT LOOKS LIKE WE ARE GETTING CLOSE.

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.