What happened
On the evening of August 9, 2007, a DHC-6 aircraft, registered F-OIQI, was operating a scheduled passenger service from Moorea to Tahiti Faa’a. The flight, designated QE1121, was being conducted under visual flight rules at a planned altitude of 600 feet. The aircraft was carrying a pilot and 19 passengers.
Following engine startup at approximately 21:53, the pilot provided safety instructions in both French and English. The aircraft received clearance to taxi toward holding point Bravo on runway 12 at 21:57 and was subsequently cleared to line up on the runway. At 22:00, the aircraft received takeoff clearance, and the engines were transitioned to full power six seconds later. During the initial climb, the pilot retracted the flaps and reduced propeller speed.
At 22:01, the pilot expressed surprise, immediately followed by multiple Ground Proximity Warning System (GPWS) alerts. Shortly after these warnings, the aircraft impacted the sea at 22:01:20. The accident resulted in 15 fatalities.
Findings
Search and recovery efforts by rescue teams and local fishermen recovered various components of the wreckage, including the right main landing gear and seat cushions. During deeper recovery operations at a depth of 700 meters, investigators retrieved the flight recorders, both engines, the instrument panel, and the cockpit's forward section.
An examination of the wreckage revealed that the rudder and elevator control cables had broken at their forward sections. Additionally, the aft portion of the elevator pitch-up control cable showed a secondary failure that appeared distinct from other identified breaks in the wreckage.