Sólheimasandur Plane Crash, Iceland — US Navy DC-3 wreck on the black sand beach
Sólheimasandur is a stretch of black volcanic sand on Iceland’s south coast, roughly midway between Reykjavik and Vík, where the remains of a United States Navy Douglas DC-3 have sat since November 1973. The aircraft ran out of fuel due to a fuel tank selection error and was forced to make an emergency landing on the beach — all crew survived. Over the decades since, the wreck has been slowly claimed by the elements, its fuselage bleached and battered by the wind and salt air, until it became one of the most distinctive and widely photographed subjects in Iceland. This photography print captures the wreck against the vast, flat expanse of the black sand, with the scale of the aircraft set against the open sky creating a composition that is both stark and quietly compelling. As wall art, the image works particularly well at larger sizes, where the texture of the sand and the weathered detail of the fuselage become fully apparent.
The combination of the remote location, the volcanic landscape and the incongruous presence of the aircraft gives Sólheimasandur a quality that is unlike almost anywhere else in Iceland. The walk across the black sand to reach the wreck — around four kilometres from the road — adds to the sense of isolation that the image conveys. Whether you’re looking for a distinctive piece of home decor with an Icelandic or aviation theme, a bold artwork for a living room, hallway or office, or an unusual and thoughtful gift for someone with a love of Iceland, travel photography or dramatic landscape imagery, this print offers something genuinely different.
This was a super surreal thing to look at, the plane looks out of this world sat on the black sand beach
✅ Perfect For
- Icelandic and Scandinavian-themed home decor
- Fans of aviation history, dramatic landscape and black sand beach photography
- Gifts for Iceland lovers, south coast visitors and travel photography admirers
- Statement wall art in living rooms, hallways, offices or studies
- Contemporary, industrial and Nordic-inspired interiors
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🖼️ This image comes in either a Canvas, or Framed or non-Framed print. SEE TABS for more INFO
Printed on high-quality Fujitsu archive paper for stunning results, comes as a Lustre giving a semi-gloss finish.
Gloss prints also available on request.
All print sizes are the sizes to fit a frame - NOT the printed image size - SEE BORDER TAB for more INFO.
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🎁 GIFT WRAPPING SERVICE:
Your gift will be wrapped in Two Tone Ribbed Kraft paper in either Brown or Dark Green (let me know if you have a preference) and completed with a rustic twine tied bow
🚚 FREE UK SHIPPING - FREE INTERNATIONAL OVER £45
All pieces of art are signed on the lower left and no other writing will be on the product.
NOTE: I can't ship larger Frames abroad. In this case I will contact you and send a refund for the frame. See Shipping Policy for more info
5% of all sales donated to the WWF charity.
🌍 Explore More
If you’re drawn to the volcanic landscapes, black sand beaches and remote locations of Iceland, there’s plenty more to explore across the collections.
Browse our full range of Scandinavian photography prints and Icelandic black sand beach wall art — Sólheimasandur, Kirkjufell, the Lofoten Islands and iconic Nordic locations, available as framed prints and canvas.
Explore our seascape and coastal photography prints and Icelandic volcanic shoreline wall art — black sand beaches, ocean scenes and dramatic coastal landscape photography, available as framed prints and canvas.
Discover our mountain and highland photography prints and Nordic landscape wall art — Icelandic peaks, Scandinavian ridgelines and dramatic upland photography, available as framed prints and canvas.
You might also like these prints from the same collection:
- Black Diamond Beach Iceland Iceberg Photography Print — glacial ice on black volcanic sand, striking Icelandic seascape wall art and home decor.
- Hamnøy Lofoten Islands Full Moon Night Village Print — Norwegian Arctic fishing village photography, atmospheric Nordic landscape wall art and gifts.
- Sakrisøy Lofoten Yellow Fishing Hut Mountain Photography Print — iconic Norwegian coastal hut and mountain landscape, warm Nordic wall art and Scandinavian home decor.
