A LC Peru de Havilland Dash 8-400, performing flight from Lima to Ayacucho (Peru) with 59 passengers and 5 crew, was on approach to Ayscucho when the crew received an unsafe indication for the nose gear.

The crew went around, worked the related checklists and decided to return to Lima. The aircraft performed a low approach to Lima’s runway which confirmed the nose gear was not down.

The aircraft subsequently positioned for another approach to runway and landed about 2:48 hours after departure.

The crew held the nose up as long as practicable before lowering onto the runway causing sparks and smoke from the nose.

The aircraft came to a stop without further incident, the passengers evacuated the aircraft. There were no injuries.