The wreckage of an old Dakota DC-3 army plane is a well-known site in South Iceland, its rusting fuselage slowly disappearing due to the harsh Icelandic weather. The wreckage lies in black volcanic sand in the orphaned landscape of a wide lava field (called Sólheimasandur), and the skeleton of still silvery-grey steel contrasts strongly with its dark surroundings.

The plane is free to the public, you can pose as you please.

Accident history

The accident occurred on November 21, 1973 during a supply flight for a US radar base. The aircraft was returning from Hofn Airport in the east of the island to Keflavik. The probable cause of the accident was heavy icing, which disturbed the aerodynamic characteristics of the aircraft, so the crew decided to make an emergency landing on a frozen beach near the town of Vik.

All 7 crew members survived and the wreckage of the aircraft remains there to this day, but it is gradually losing its character through careless intervention and destruction by tourists.

How to get there?

The wreckage is located about 3.5 km from the main ring road number 1. Just off the road you will find a small car park, from which a footpath leads across flat ground (it can be very windy) to the wreck.