Plane Vs. Mountain

On Random Island, in Newfoundland. Much more, w/ details.An RB-36H-25-CF, for reconnaissance, thus the large crew. Specifics.

It gets worse:

During a low-altitude flight over the Atlantic Ocean, RB-36 (#51-13721), an all-weather bomber reconnaisance aircraft, [Whaddya think the "R" is for, ninny? — Ed.] struck an 896-foot tall ridge near Nut Grove (Burgoyne's Cove), Newfoundland, Canada, on March 18, 1953 at an altitude of 800 feet. The pilots were off-course and had misjudged speed, arriving at the coast of Newfoundland 1.5 hrs. early. The plane exploded on impact, killing all 23 aboard.

That same night, a SAR aircraft (Boeing SB-29-70-BW Superfortress, #44-69982) of the 52d ARS, 6th ARG, based at Harmon AFB, Newfoundland, was sent out to assist the search for the crashed RB-36 and went missing shortly before landing, apparently crashing into St. Georges Bay and killing the crew of 11. The victims were: Capt. Francis Xavier Quinn, Dorchester, Massachusetts; Capt. William A. Roy, San Antonio, Texas; First Lt. Rodger D. Null, Venice, California; First Lt. Robert W. Errico, Bronx, New York; S/Sgt. David E. Kimbrough, Roswell, New Mexico; Cpl. David E. Rash, Beaverton, Oregon; A/1c Robert J. Montgomery, Mountain Grove, Missouri; A/3c Michael Kerr, Jr., Chisholm, Minnesota; A/3c Sammy O. Jones, Akron, Ohio; and A/3c James E. Coggins, Allston, Massachusetts.

[...]

"In order to test North American defense systems, multiple RB-36H Peacemaker reconnaissance aircraft from the 28th Reconnaissance Wing, from Rapid City Air Force Base in South Dakota, took off from the Canary Islands and attempted to enter the continent undetected. The planes were set to maintain a 500 foot altitude to avoid detection and once they entered the continental US would climb to 40,000 feet and proceed to designated targets. On the night of March 17, 1953, these aircraft took off in 15 minute intervals en route to North America. Mission commander General Richard E. Ellsworth was in the first plane and was the only person who knew when the mission would start. In order to navigate to the United States in total secrecy, the pilots would use sextons, [sic] a navigation instrument, and would have to rely on weather forecasts which meant they wouldn’t be able to receive updates if conditions changed."