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.