The Eyvindarholt DC-3 Airplane Wreckage
Less known and much less crowded than the famous DC-3 wreckage in Sólheimasandur, there’s another notable airplane wreck in Iceland: the Eyvindarholt DC-3. This wreck is also located in southern Iceland, but this time near the popular Seljalandsfoss waterfall.
For years, the aircraft fuselage lay where it crashed in Sauðanes near Langanes, in the northeast of Iceland. However, a few years ago, local farmers complained that the wreck had become too much of a tourist attraction and was disturbing their livestock.
The owners of the Sauðanes farm needed to find someone willing to relocate the wreckage, moving it to a place where visitors could enjoy the sight without disturbing the animals. Finally, in 2023, a landowner from Eyvindarholt stepped forward and agreed to have it moved to his property.
History of the Eyvindarholt DC3
The DC-3 Airplane wreck in Eyvindarholt
The Douglas DC-3, also known as the Dakota, and its military variant, the C-47 Skytrain, are some of the most iconic aircraft in aviation history.
This type of aircraft was widely used in Iceland by the American military, where national air carriers operated from 1942 until 2006, when the last land restoration flights were conducted.
From 1951 to 2006, American military forces stationed in Iceland operated dozens of different aircraft, including C-47 transport planes during the 1950s, 60s, and 70s.
In 1961, control of the Defense Force base shifted from the US Air Force to the US Navy, creating US Naval Station Keflavik. As part of this transition, several Air Force aircraft, including four C-47Ds, were transferred to the Navy. During this time, American military aircraft operating in the northern regions were painted with distinctive red markings on the nose, tail, and wingtips to help with search and rescue missions in the icy terrain in case of a crash.
One of these aircraft, Navy No. 150187 (previously Air Force 43-48393, built in 1944), took off from Keflavik on the morning of July 25, 1969. Its mission was to support the Navy's communications station at Mount Heidarfjall, near Thorshofn in northeast Iceland.
The plane had a Navy crew of three and seven passengers, including an Icelandic defense force employee. With clear skies and mild winds in the 5-10 knot range reported from the Saudanes airstrip, the flight proceeded north.
The wreck of the DC3 near the meanders of the Krossa
On the final approach to the 1,140-meter east-west runway, the winds had shifted to north-northeast, causing a slight tailwind. While the landing was normal, the crosswind affected the tail as the aircraft slowed down, causing it to veer off the runway. The right landing gear struck a pile of driftwood, and the wing hit the ground.
Fortunately, no one was injured, but the plane was damaged beyond repair. The wreck was salvaged for parts and sold.
For decades, the remains of the plane sat unused near the old runway, which had since been abandoned. It even served as a makeshift shelter for local livestock. In 1996, the wings were removed, and in 2023, the fuselage was relocated to Eyvindarholt, where it now stands as a tribute to this aircraft's long service in Iceland.
While less famous than the DC3 wreckage in Sólheimasandur, the Eyvindarholt DC-3 is in much better condition.
How to Get There
Finding the Eyvindarholt wreckage is easy. The site is located close to the scenic Seljalandsfoss waterfall. From Road 1, turn off towards the waterfall onto Road 249, heading towards Thórsmörk.
There’s no need to worry about river crossings—this portion of the road is accessible to all vehicles, although the track gets rougher if you keep driving past the site along the 249.
Between Seljalandsfoss and Eyvindarholt, it’s only about a 5 km drive (approximately 7 minutes) on a well-maintained gravel road. There is a small parking area when you arrive with a 1,000 ISK fee, payable through the parka.is app (as is common in many places in Iceland).
From the parking lot, it’s just a short 200-meter walk to the wreckage. Visitors are welcome to walk around the wreck and admire it from every angle!
