Sólheimasandur Plane Wreck
The Sólheimasandur plane wreck is the remains of a United States Navy Douglas Super DC-3 that crash-landed on the black sand beach of Sólheimasandur in southern Iceland on November 24, 1973. All crew members survived. The aircraft was abandoned on the beach where it remains to this day, gradually worn by wind and salt air into a haunting skeletal ruin that has become one of Iceland’s most-photographed landmarks and a pilgrimage site for photographers, filmmakers, and adventure travellers worldwide.
At a glance
- Type
- Aircraft wreck / abandoned landmark
- Period
- Crash date: 24 November 1973; open to visitors since the 1970s
- Style
- Industrial ruin / natural decay
- Location
- Sólheimasandur black sand beach, South Iceland (near Vík)
- Coordinates
- 63.4598° N, 19.3648° W
- Aircraft type
- Douglas Super DC-3 (US Navy, designation R4D-8)
Overview
The wreck sits on a vast expanse of black volcanic sand between the Mýrdalsjökull glacier and the North Atlantic coast, accessible via a 4-kilometre walk from the Ring Road parking area. Its stark white fuselage against the monochrome beach and dramatic Icelandic skies has made it an iconic backdrop for music videos, fashion shoots, and travel photography. The site is freely accessible year-round, though visitors must walk or use shuttle services as driving on the sand is prohibited.
History
On 24 November 1973, a US Navy Douglas Super DC-3 ran out of fuel and made an emergency belly-landing on Sólheimasandur beach. The crew of several servicemen survived without serious injuries and were rescued. Military authorities decided not to salvage the aircraft given the remote location, and it was simply left on the sand. Over the following decades, local farmers removed some parts, but the main fuselage, wings, and engines remained, slowly weathering into the photogenic ruin visitors see today. The Icelandic government eventually formalised visitor access and introduced parking regulations to protect the fragile landscape.
What you see
Approaching the wreck across the featureless black sand creates a powerful sense of isolation. The fuselage is largely intact though stripped of windows and many fittings, its white-painted aluminium skin oxidised and scored by decades of salt wind. The twin-engine nacelles and bent propeller blades frame views of the glacier plateau to the north. Inside the hollow cabin, light falls through open ports onto a floor of black sand that has drifted in over fifty years. The surreal juxtaposition of 20th-century technology and primordial volcanic landscape draws comparisons to post-apocalyptic film sets.
Cultural significance
The Sólheimasandur wreck has become a global icon of Iceland’s wild beauty, appearing in music videos by Justin Bieber and numerous international campaigns. It represents a rare case where an industrial accident has been absorbed into the natural landscape to create an accidental monument, and its popularity has driven a broader appreciation of Iceland’s volcanic south coast as a cultural and photographic destination.
Practical information
- Access
- Free; 4 km walk from Ring Road (Route 1) parking area near Sólheimajökull glacier turn-off
- Hours
- Open year-round, 24 hours; note Arctic darkness in winter
- Admission
- Free
- Restrictions
- No vehicles on the beach; use designated parking area only
Getting there
The parking area is located on Route 1 (Ring Road) approximately 15 km west of Vík í Mýrdal. From Reykjavík the drive takes about 2.5 hours. Shuttle services run from Vík during peak season. The 4 km walk across flat black sand takes approximately 45–60 minutes each way; wear wind-proof clothing and sturdy shoes as the beach offers no shelter.