62 fatalities

Overloaded Twin-Engine Aircraft Crashes in Mountainous Terrain (FAP329)

Tarma, PeruFlight

On June 21, 1989, a De Havilland DHC-5 Buffalo (registration FAP329) operated by Peruvian Air Force - Fuerza Aérea del Perú was involved in an aviation accident near Tarma, Peru in flight. 62 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The aircraft was overloaded and the crew could not obtain full engine power as they were submitted to strong contribution, resulting in insufficient altitude gain. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 8 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Primary reportUpdated 2026-06-11Data APIEditorial standards

A twin-engine aircraft crashed into a mountain slope 30 km northwest of Tarma after departing San Ramón-Capitan Alvarino Airport. All 62 occupants were killed. The aircraft was overloaded and unable to gain sufficient altitude.

Incident Overview and Departure Details A twin-engine aircraft departed San Ramón-Capitan Alvarino Airport at 1730 local time on the second leg of a scheduled trip to Lima. The aircraft was carrying 57 passengers, a crew of five, and a cargo load consisting of various goods, including wood and animals. ## Flight Progression and Impact During the climb phase, the captain notified air traffic control of engine problems and stated that the aircraft was unable to maintain the assigned altitude. Approximately ten minutes after takeoff, the aircraft struck the slope of a mountain located about 30 kilometers northwest of Tarma. The aircraft disintegrated upon impact, resulting in the deaths of all 62 occupants on board. ## Official Findings and Contributing Factors The official investigation determined that the aircraft was operating with 57 passengers despite a maximum certified passenger capacity of 44. The investigation also concluded that the aircraft was unable to gain sufficient altitude due to being overloaded. Additionally, the crew was unable to obtain full engine power because they were subjected to strong contribution, which further impaired the aircraft's performance during the climb.

Probable cause

The aircraft was overloaded and the crew could not obtain full engine power as they were submitted to strong contribution, resulting in insufficient altitude gain.