Investigators have released new details from the crash of a FedEx MD-11F in Narita, on 23 March 2009. The aircraft rolled over onto the runway, and exploded killing both pilots and destroying the aircraft.

Just before attempting the landing, a Nippon Cargo Airlines flight reported winds of "plus-minus 15kts below 1000 feet", and conditions as "very rough". The aircraft touched down on the MLG on runway 34L, before bouncing back into the air. The freighter proceeded to touch down a second time, before bouncing again, hitting even harder on the NLG first, causing major structural damage at the wing root of the left wing.

When the aircraft was cleared to land, the tower reported to them "Winds 320 at 29kts, max 36, min 17." Approximately 40 seconds later, the pilot was heard saying "Yee-haw. Ride em cowboy" as the plane passed 1000 ft. When the central aural warning system reported 500 feet, the pilot said "Clear to land 34L, stable." The copilot was heard to say "Shee". That was the last that was recorded on the CVR.

The aircraft touched down at 166kts, before pitching up again. The aircraft impacted the runway a second time at 2.2Gs, and bounced into the air again. The nose pitched up to 6.7 degrees on the second bounce, then at 16 feet, it dropped to 4.9 degrees nose down, and the nose gear impacted the runway at 3.0Gs. This impact fractured the left wing between the number one engine and the fuselage, near the left main gear, and caused a fire to start. The aircraft proceeded to flip over, impact the runway again, and explode.

Both pilots were experienced, with the captain having 8100 hours, and copilot with over 5200 hours.