Omega Aerial Refueling Services Flight 70

Omega Aerial Refueling Services Flight 70 was a scheduled refueling flight operated by a Boeing 707 that, on May 18, 2011, crashed on takeoff from Naval Air Station Point Mugu, California, USA (now Naval Base Ventura County), while preparing to refuel McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornets operated by the United States Navy that were in the nearby area. All three crew members on board survived the subsequent runway excursion with injuries.

Background

The aircraft was a modified Boeing 707-321B. It was constructed in 1969, and, at the time of the accident, it had accumulated 47,856 flight hours, with 15,186 flight cycles. The aircraft was previously involved in an incident (under its previous registration N892PA) on February 20, 1969, where it overran the runway at Sydney Airport after the No. 2 engine suffered a bird strike during its takeoff roll. Omega Air acquired the aircraft on July 29, 1994, before which it was owned by five operators. In 1996 it was converted into a tanker.

41-year-old Captain Chris Thurmond had 5,117 flight hours, with 2,730 on the Boeing 707. He was hired by Omega Air in September 2008. At the time of the accident, he had type ratings for the Boeing 707 and 720, Beriev Be-200, and the Airbus A320. He was a former Navy pilot, and he flew on the B707 and E6A. He also flew the Beechcraft King Air in Europe, as well as the Airbus A320 for United Airlines (as a first officer). Additionally he flew flights with Principal Air’s B707s.

45-year-old First Officer Joseph Becker had 4,052 flight hours, with 2,900 on the Boeing 707. He was hired by Omega Air in October 2008. In the Navy, he flew the Raytheon T-1 Jayhawk, Boeing E6 Mercury and Beechcraft C-12 Huron. At Omega Air, he flew the DC-10 and the 707. He had type ratings on the Boeing 707 and 720, Beriev Be-200 and DC-10.

50-year-old Flight Engineer Ken McNamara had around 9,000 flight hours, with 6,500 hours on the Boeing 707. He was hired by Omega Air in November 2002. In the US Air Force he flew the Lockheed C-141 Starlifter. He also flew the Boeing 707 and 747. He was qualified on the 707 and DC-10.

Accident

The flight crew performed a pre-flight inspection and found nothing out of the ordinary. During taxi, winds were reported from 280° at 24 kn, gusting to 34 kn. The crew calculated the takeoff decision speed to be 141 kn, and the rotation speed to be 147 kn which the pilots increased by 5 kn, to compensate for gusts. At 17:23 PDT the flight was cleared for take-off from runway 21 and the crew were instructed to turn left to 160° after departure. The take-off roll was normal and the plane lifted off the runway.

Shortly after liftoff, 20 ft above and 7000 ft down the runway, the No. 2 engine separated from the wing and struck the No. 1 engine's inlet cowling, causing it to produce drag and reduced thrust. Even with full right aileron and rudder, the plane started to descend and drift to the left. The captain lowered the nose and leveled the wings, which was followed by the plane making multiple contacts with the runway. After touchdown, the plane drifted left and departed the runway, crossing a taxiway before coming to rest in a saltwater marsh. A fire erupted which consumed the top of the cabin and the cockpit. All three crew members survived.