Date: 201502
Local time of day: 1201-1800
Location: FAT.TRACON, CA
Flight conditions: VMC
Weather elements / visibility: 10
Light: Daylight
Aircraft: PA-46 Malibu/Malibu Mirage/Malibu Matrix
Operator: Corporate
Operating under: Part 91
Flight plan: VFR
Mission: Passenger
Flight phase: Initial Climb
Airspace: Class E FAT
Second aircraft: Caravan Undifferentiated
Reporter organization: Corporate
Reporter function: Captain; Pilot Flying; Single Pilot
Reporter qualification: Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Flight Instructor
Human factors: Communication Breakdown; Confusion; Situational Awareness
Anomaly: Conflict NMAC
Detector: Automation Aircraft TA; Person Passenger
When detected: In-flight
Result: Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
Contributing factors: Human Factors
Primary problem: Human Factors

Narrative: I departed Visalia; then flew runway heading 301 to about one mile downrange.  I then turned left heading 015 to take-up a heading direct about 286.  Winds on the ground were calm with no reported ceiling and unlimited visibility. Just at lift-off I received a traffic alert but the alert showed traffic was behind me indicating there might be another aircraft on the ground waiting to depart as it was same altitude at rotation. It was just a moment later I received a second traffic alert with a target off to the right a few hundred feet above.The next moment one of my passengers made visual sighting pointing out traffic descending into my altitude converging from my right.  I did not see the traffic at first but my passenger was persistent and continued to point out traffic until I saw it. I then heard on the radio a traffic report from a Cessna Caravan; stating they were on a 'high' downwind entry to Visalia runway 30. I then called on CTAF reporting my position of just upwind runway 30 Visalia. This traffic conflict was about two miles downrange from the airport between altitudes; I believe; 1;300 Ft. MSL - 1;600 Ft. MSLI called out on the CTAF 123.05 to the Cessna Caravan; 'Caravan pilot; what are you doing'?  There was no response. Believing the traffic did not see me and was not responding to my call; I made an immediate climbing left turn; evasive maneuver; leaving my conflicting altitude with traffic to a safer position.  Due to the wing high configuration of my aircraft; I did not see the Cessna Caravan traffic pass underneath.  Looking back towards Visalia out of my left side window; I could see the Cessna Caravan making a left downwind entry to Runway 30 after crossing the centerline of the runway. I made a second radio call after the Caravan passed underneath with the Caravan pilot saying; 'sorry about that'.I immediately called Fresno Approach on the Visalia discrete frequency asking if they; Fresno TRACON; had been working the Cessna Caravan.  The controller stated yes.  I explained the near mid-air collision to that controller.  The Fresno controller said he was working the Cessna Caravan up to but released that aircraft at Kingsburg; Kingsburg is 14 NM and a bearing of 313 from Visalia Airport. The angle between Kingsburg direct to Visalia and our angle from Visalia direct would have put us on a 015 converging course.  If that aircraft was entering the Visalia traffic pattern direct from the position it was at when released by Fresno; it is most probable the Cessna Caravan would converge with our departure. After clear of traffic; I continued climb and resumed navigation direct. The remainder of the flight was uneventful.




Synopsis: PA-46 Captain reports a NMAC departing VIS with a C208 entering the the downwind from an overhead entry. A traffic alert system aboard the PA-46 allowed the reporter to spot the conflicting traffic and take evasive action.