SMA HAS MIDAIR COLLISION; MAKES IT TO THE ARPT.

Narrative

I WAS ON A SOLO FLT FROM GAI TO W54 ON A HDG OF 18 DEGS AT 2500 FT AND I HAD DSNDED TO 2000 FT AND WA TURNING OR HAD ALREADY TURNED TO A HDG OF ABOUT 064 DEGS AND WAS CONTINUING MY DSCNT TO PATTERN ALT (1600 FT). I HAD CALLED AWOS AND ALSO UNICOM TO GET ACTIVE RWY. I DID NOT UNDERSTAND UNICOM'S WORDS ON WHICH RWY; BUT I OVERHEARD ANOTHER PLT RECEIVING ADVISORY THAT RWY IN USE WAS 34. I PLANNED TO GAR THE S SIDE OF ARPT TO THE E AND COME BACK IN ON A 45 DEG FOR DOWNWIND. I WAS AT APPROX 1800 FT AT A LOCATION S OF THE ARPT ABOUT 2 NM FROM THE END OF THE RWY. I SAW NOTHING IN FRONT OF ME OR ON EITHER SIDE; AND THEN I FELT SOMETHING HIT THE PLANE THAT COULD NOT BE MISTAKEN FOR TURB. SINCE THE PLANE SEEMED TO BE NORMAL; I THOUGHT PERHAPS I HAD HIT A LARGE BIRD. I CALLED CARROLL CITY TFC AND IDENTED MY ACFT AND THAT I THOUGHT I HAD BEEN HIT. ANOTHER PLT RADIOED; SAYING HE THOUGHT HIS PLANE HAD BARELY TOUCHED MY PLANE. I ANNOUNCED THAT I WAS MAKING A STRAIGHT IN LNDG ON RWY 34 AND I PROCEEDED TO DSND ON A LONG FINAL; ADDING FLAPS; ETC. LANDED PLANE TO FIND THAT ABOUT 6 INCHES WAS CUT OFF THE TOP OF THE RUDDER. PLT OF THE OTHER PLANE LANDED AND HIS PROP WAS DAMAGED. CAUSE OF THIS ACCIDENT -- PLT IN AIRPLANE BEHIND AND ABOVE MINE DID NOT SEE MY PLANE UNTIL HE WAS ALMOST ON IT AND TRIED TO TAKE EVASIVE ACTION TOO LATE. TO AVOID THIS. I COULD HAVE ANNOUNCED MY LOCATION 5 MI OUT AND I SHOULD HAVE BEEN HIGHER OR FURTHER FROM ARPT TO GO OUT TO RETURN ON 45 DEG FOR DOWNWIND. OTHER PLT SHOULD HAVE BEEN MORE ALERT VISUALLY AND SHOULD HAVE REALIZED ANOTHER PLANE WAS IN VICINITY ASKING FOR ACTIVE.