The DC-3 Airplane wreck in Eyvindarholt
Much less known and less touristic than the DC3 wreckage lost in the sands of Sólheimasandur, the DC3 wreckage of Eyvindarholt is also located in southern Iceland, near the Seljalandsfoss waterfall.
This wreckage remained for a long time at its crash site in Sauðanes near Langanes in northeastern Iceland. A few years ago, the plane became too much of a tourist attraction, which made it difficult for animals to live peacefully in the field near the plane wreckage.
The owners of the Sauðanes farm then sought someone who would be willing to move it to another location, so that people could enjoy it without disturbing the animals. The owner of Eyvindarholt then stepped forward and agreed to recover the wreckage in 2023.
L'histoire du DC3 de Eyvindarholt
The DC-3 Airplane wreck in Eyvindarholt
The Douglas DC-3 aircraft, often called Dakota, and its military version, the C-47 Skytrain, are among the most well-known in aviation history.
This type of aircraft was used for a long time in Iceland by the American army where national air carriers operated from 1942 to 2006, when land restoration flights ended.
American military forces based in Iceland from 1951 to 2006 operated dozens of aircraft of different types, including C-47 transport aircraft during the 1950s, 60s, and 70s.
In 1961, the US Navy took over the operations of the Defense Force base from the Air Force as the US Naval Station Keflavik. The change included the transfer of Air Force base aircraft to the Navy, including four C-47Ds. American military aircraft operating in northern regions at the time sported a distinctive red color on the nose, tail, and wing tips to facilitate search and rescue efforts in case of an accident in the frozen lands.
Navy aircraft No. 150187 (formerly Air Force 43-48393, produced in 1944) took off from Keflavik Airport on the morning of July 25, 1969, for a support flight to the Navy's communication station at Mount Heidarfjall near Thorshofn in northeastern Iceland.
On board were a Navy crew of three and seven passengers, including an Icelandic defense force employee. The weather was clear and bright, and Navy personnel waiting at the Saudanes airstrip reported a variable wind of 5 to 10 knots coming from the northwest.
The pilot then observed the wind direction indicated while flying over, but with a slightly higher speed. The flight continued northward.
The wreck of the DC3 near the meanders of the Krossa
The runway was 1,140 m long, roughly oriented east-west. On final approach to the west, the crew did not recheck the position of the windsock, but the direction had then turned to north-northeast. This meant a slight wind was blowing against the rear quarter of the aircraft, but the landing was normal.
However, as the speed decreased, the crosswind affected the tail, causing the aircraft to skid to the right. This caused the aircraft to veer off the runway on the right side where the right landing gear hit a pile of driftwood and the wing hit the ground.
There were no injuries among the passengers or crew, but the aircraft was deemed too damaged to repair. Usable parts were salvaged and the wreckage sold.
For decades, it remained near the runway, which quickly ceased to be used, and served as shelter for livestock from the nearby farm in Sauðanes. In 1996, the wings were removed, and the fuselage was finally transported to Eyvindarholt in 2023 to be displayed as a tribute to the long service history of this remarkable aircraft type in Iceland.
Less known than the DC3 wreckage of Sólheimasandur, it is however in much better condition!
How to Get There?
The wreckage is very easy to find. It is now located very close to the beautiful Seljalandsfoss waterfall. On Route 1, you need to turn towards the waterfall, onto Route 249, in the direction of Thórsmörk.
No worries, there are no river crossings and the road is accessible by all types of vehicles to reach the wreckage, with the track becoming difficult further along Route 249.
Between Seljalandsfoss and Eyvindarholt, you only need to drive 5 km (about 7 minutes) on a gravel road in decent condition. Upon arrival, you'll find a small parking lot, where you now have to pay 1,000 ISK, as is often the case in Iceland using the parka.is application.
The parking lot is only 200 meters from the wreckage. It's possible to walk around it to admire it from all angles!
