Narrative:

During AOPA wkend clinic at fat, we were on the second session training flight making approachs to visalia, ca, along with several other aircraft. We received, on final, to execute an immediate pull-up to the left. The pilot, under hood, responded promptly, at which point I took over and executed evasive action down and to the right. We were on a collision course about 1/4 mi from conflicting traffic. Reported same to approach control who stated that radar reception poor under 1800'. Where radar reception inadequate, recommended that density control be exercised to avoid oversaturation of airspace. Possible incursion into fat arsa at 400' below the top. Reporter was instrument for AOPA wkend clinic. While on the initial INS refresher training flight, the aircraft drifted into the outer edge (presumed) of the arsa. When noted, immediate corrective action was taken. Fat approach control made no comment, and approach was aware of our general location and activity. Position determined in relation to arsa by DME and so is probable no incursion occurred. Fat is not the reporter's home station, where landmarks are renown. We were provided an arsa chart, but the FAA pamphlet did not provide sufficient definition for accurate ground reference.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SAFETY PLT WITH STUDENT UNDER HOOD OBSERVED TRAFFIC NOTED BY FAT TRACON CTLR AND TOOK EVASIVE ACTION TO AVOID ON FINAL APCH TO VISUAL ARPT.

Narrative: DURING AOPA WKEND CLINIC AT FAT, WE WERE ON THE SECOND SESSION TRNING FLT MAKING APCHS TO VISALIA, CA, ALONG WITH SEVERAL OTHER ACFT. WE RECEIVED, ON FINAL, TO EXECUTE AN IMMEDIATE PULL-UP TO THE LEFT. THE PLT, UNDER HOOD, RESPONDED PROMPTLY, AT WHICH POINT I TOOK OVER AND EXECUTED EVASIVE ACTION DOWN AND TO THE RIGHT. WE WERE ON A COLLISION COURSE ABOUT 1/4 MI FROM CONFLICTING TFC. RPTED SAME TO APCH CTL WHO STATED THAT RADAR RECEPTION POOR UNDER 1800'. WHERE RADAR RECEPTION INADEQUATE, RECOMMENDED THAT DENSITY CTL BE EXERCISED TO AVOID OVERSATURATION OF AIRSPACE. POSSIBLE INCURSION INTO FAT ARSA AT 400' BELOW THE TOP. RPTR WAS INSTR FOR AOPA WKEND CLINIC. WHILE ON THE INITIAL INS REFRESHER TRNING FLT, THE ACFT DRIFTED INTO THE OUTER EDGE (PRESUMED) OF THE ARSA. WHEN NOTED, IMMEDIATE CORRECTIVE ACTION WAS TAKEN. FAT APCH CTL MADE NO COMMENT, AND APCH WAS AWARE OF OUR GENERAL LOCATION AND ACTIVITY. POSITION DETERMINED IN RELATION TO ARSA BY DME AND SO IS PROBABLE NO INCURSION OCCURRED. FAT IS NOT THE RPTR'S HOME STATION, WHERE LANDMARKS ARE RENOWN. WE WERE PROVIDED AN ARSA CHART, BUT THE FAA PAMPHLET DID NOT PROVIDE SUFFICIENT DEFINITION FOR ACCURATE GND REF.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.