TFC PATTERN CONFLICT AND AN NMAC AT 1200 FT MSL BTWN A PA32R AND A BE35 3 NM E OF VIS; CA.

Narrative

WE WERE RETURNING TO THE VISALIA ARPT FROM THE SW; PREVAILING WINDS FAVORED A LNDG ON RWY 12. SOME PLTS WERE DEPARTING RWY 30. I DECIDED TO FLY N AND ENTER TFC PATTERN AT 2000 FT MSL; DSND AND MANEUVER SE FOR A 45 DEG ENTRY. AN ACFT RPTED DEPARTING 12 WITH A L XWIND FOR DEP; EXPECTED. AT APPROX 4 MI NE OF THE PATTERN AT VISALIA MUNI; WE DSNDED TO 1200 FT MSL. ARPT ELEVATION OF 295 FT MSL; TFC PATTERN IS 1295 FT MSL. I LOOKED R; CLRING TFC AND TURNED S FROM AN EASTERLY HEADING. PREPARING TO CLB TO PATTERN ALT AND SLOW TO VGE SPD. I LOWERED R WING AND NOSE TO LOOK FOR TFC AND SAW AN ACFT INSTANTLY CROSS OVER OUR ACFT AT ABOUT 50 FT ABOVE US. I RECOGNIZED THE ACFT AS A STRAIGHT TAIL BEECH SINGLE RETRACTABLE. I MAINTAINED 1200 FT AND VISUALLY TRACKED THE OPPOSING ACFT TO OUR 7 O'CLOCK POS. WE CONTINUED TO A POINT WHEN I COULD SAFELY CLB AND EXTEND GEAR PRIOR TO ENTERING THE TFC PATTERN. WE ENTERED THE PATTERN FROM 2 MI SE AT A 45 DEG LIVE INTERSECT TO THE DOWNWIND TRACK. WE LANDED; TAXIED; SHUT DOWN; AND OBSERVED A BEECHCRAFT 35 LAND AND TAXI. DURING THE ENTIRE TIME; WE DON'T BELIEVE WE HEARD ANY RADIO XMISSIONS FROM THE BEECHCRAFT; HOWEVER WE DID HAVE THE OTHER ACFT TFC CALLS.