On 21 November 1973, a Douglas C-117D transport aircraft operated by the United States Navy crashed onto Sólheimasandur [is] beach in southern Iceland during severe icing conditions.

The main fuselage wreckage has remained relatively intact since the accident, leading to the crash site becoming a tourist destination.

En route the aircraft encountered severe icing and the crew were forced to land on a frozen river at Sólheimasandur.

All 7 crew members survived and were rescued by helicopter, but the aircraft was written off ('surveyed' in US Navy parlance).

All R4D-8 aircraft still extant were re-designated as C-117D in the tri-service designation system introduced from 18 September 1962.