Wrecked DC-3 Plane (Solheimasandur)

Background

History & Background

The story of the Sólheimasandur DC-3 plane wreck begins on November 24, 1973. A US Navy Douglas Super DC-3 aircraft, performing a routine flight from Höfn to Naval Air Station Keflavik, experienced severe icing and ran out of fuel. Despite the perilous situation, the skilled pilot, Captain James W. Wickie, successfully executed an emergency landing on the desolate black sand beach of Sólheimasandur. Miraculously, all seven crew members on board survived without serious injury, a testament to the pilot's remarkable skill. Following the successful emergency landing, the US Navy assessed the situation. Due to the remote location and the immense logistical challenges of recovery, it was deemed more practical and cost-effective to abandon the aircraft rather than attempt to salvage it. Most of the valuable equipment and usable parts were meticulously stripped from the plane, leaving behind the now-iconic fuselage. Over the decades, the skeletal remains of the DC-3 have been relentlessly battered by Iceland's harsh weather conditions, gradually transforming it into the ghostly, weathered structure seen today. What was once merely an accident site has evolved into a powerful symbol of resilience and a captivating landmark, attracting photographers, adventurers, and filmmakers from around the globe eager to witness its stark beauty against the dramatic backdrop of Iceland's volcanic landscape, often bathed in the soft, ethereal light of dawn or dusk, as seen in the image.

The Sólheimasandur aircraft wreck is reached across an exposed black-sand plain from the Route 1 parking area. The aircraft made an emergency landing in 1973 and the surviving fuselage later became a widely photographed landmark. Visitors should allow for the long exposed walk and changing weather, and should avoid climbing on or damaging the wreck.