What happened
On March 18, 1953, an RB-3linH, registration 51-13721, departed Lajes Airdrome in the Azores, bound for Rapid City Air Force Base, South Dakota. The flight, operated by the 28th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing (Heavy), was a long-range mission expected to last approximately 25 hours. During the oceanic portion of the journey, the crew maintained an altitude of roughly 1,000 feet above the water to optimize fuel efficiency.
As the aircraft approached Newfoundland, weather conditions shifted unexpectedly. While the flight plan anticipated headwinds from a low-pressure system, the aircraft instead encountered tailwinds, causing it to arrive over land approximately 90 minutes ahead of schedule. Heavy overcast prevented the navigator from using celestial navigation methods, and the crew did not activate the mapping radar as planned. During this period, the aircraft flew through dense fog, sleet, and freezing drizzle with visibility reduced to less than 1/8-mile.
At approximately 0740Z, the RB-36H struck an 896-foot ridge near Nut Cove, located on the northern side of Smith Sound. The impact occurred roughly 30 miles after the aircraft had crossed the coastline. The collision caused the left wing to separate and ignited a massive fire upon contact with the terrain. All 22 crew members perished in the accident.
Findings
An investigation into the crash highlighted several critical issues regarding navigation and terrain awareness. A primary contributing factor was the unanticipated tailwinds, which led to an inaccurate estimation of the aircraft's position relative to the coast. The investigation board recommended the development of forward-looking radar technology to assist with terrain avoidance and issued new protocols requiring navigators to scan for land at much more frequent intervals.