Date: 02 October 1996
Airline: Aeroperu
Flight No.: 603
Aircraft: Boeing 757-23A
Location: Pasamayo, Peru
Fatalities: 70:70
Photographer: Patrik Frykberg
The aircraft departed Lima's runway 15 at 12:42am local time for a flight to Santiago. Five minutes after takeoff the crew reported problems with their instruments and stated they wanted to return to the airport. During the initial climb, the airspeed and altitude indications were too low. In calm winds, the windshear warning suddenly sounded. The aircraft climbed to 13,000 feet before a return to Lima was initiated. While returning, the captain's airspeed and altitude indications were too high, causing an overspeed warning. At the same time, the co-pilot's airspeed indications were too low, triggering the stick shaker. The aircraft kept descending and impacted the water with the left wing and no.1 engine at a 10° angle and an airspeed of 260kts. The aircraft pulled up to about 200ft and crashed inverted. The captain's airspeed indicated 450kts and the altitude 9500ft. The investigation into the accident showed that the aircraft's three static ports on the left side were obstructed by masking tape. The tape had been applied before washing and polishing of the aircraft prior to the accident flight.
