Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Flight Instructor
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 100; Flight Crew Total 20000; Flight Crew Type 2000
Communication Breakdown
Conflict NMAC
Air Traffic Control Issued Advisory / Alert; Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
Procedure; Human Factors
Repositioning empty back to Fairbanks Chena Marina Airport; following a passenger flight from that same airport.  I called Fairbanks Approach at 30 NM NE at 3500 MSL.  Although there were not a lot of calls at at the time; I was 25 NM NE before I was able to give my information to Fairbanks Approach; and receive a transponder code. I proceeded directly to Chena Marina Airport in the absence of any other instructions and descended to an altitude of 1500 FT as I approached the Fairbanks International Airport.  I received no traffic advisories anywhere in the vicinity of the Fairbanks airport from the approach controller. At approximately 1 mile NE of the Fairbanks International Airport (PAFA/FAI); I received instructions to contact Fairbanks Tower; which I promptly did.  Immediately afterward; I noted that I was on a 45 degree converging collision course with a Helio Courier at my same altitude; which had just taken off from Fairbanks International Airport 2R; although I don't know if it was from the paved strip or gravel ski strip.  He would have been on a course of approximately 20 degrees; and I was flying a course of approximately 230 degrees.  I altered my heading to the left to go behind the Helio.  After I turned; I received a call from a female voice tower controller advising me of the traffic; and of a second aircraft flying away from me toward the west; which I could see was no factor.  I did not see the other aircraft take any evasive action; although subsequently; the Helio pilot called in and asked for the N Number of the Cherokee that 'just about hit me.'  A male voice tower controller asked the Helio pilot to call the tower upon his return; and he would have that information for him.  The Helio pilot said that would be in about two hours. The landing at Chena Marina was uneventful. I am thankful that I was scanning for aircraft and that I was able to see the other aircraft in adequate time.  This was a case of ideal weather conditions; and a low wing aircraft descending while the high wing aircraft was climbing; along with an additional factor of the long nose on the Cherokee making forward and down visibility limited.  I believe an earlier hand off from Approach Control to the tower could have avoided this situation; with perhaps a prompt from me.  However; sometimes Approach Control at Fairbanks does not hand off aircraft until fairly close to landing; or in cases of lower traffic; not at all; up through landing and taxi.
PA32 pilot inbound to Chena Marina reports a NMAC with a Helio Courier departing FAI Runway 2R at 1500 FT. The PA32 pilot was Radar identified and talking to FAI Tower but neither pilot received a traffic advisory until evasive action had been taken by the PA32 pilot.