Mcdonnell Douglas MD11 accident near Narita, Jp, March 23, 2009
On March 23, 2009 at about 6:49 am local time, a Mcdonnell Douglas MD11, registered N526FE, was destroyed in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Narita (Narita International Airport). It was flown under scheduled airline rules (Part 121). 2 people were killed.
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 23, 2009 · about 6:49 am local time
- Place
- Narita, Japan · Narita International Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- not recorded
- Aircraft
- Mcdonnell Douglas MD11 F · all MD11s on the register
- Registration
- N526FE · no longer on the register · serial 560
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Flight · scheduled airline rules (Part 121)
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On March 23, 2009, at 0649 local time, a FedEx Boeing (McDonnell Douglas) MD-11 crashed upon landing at Narita International Airport (NRT), Narita, Japan. The flight originated at Guangzho Baiyun International Airport (CAN), Guangzho, China. Both pilots were killed and no other persons were onboard. The accident is being investigated by the Japan Transport Safety Board. All inquiries to this investigation should be directed to: JAPAN TRANSPORT SAFETY BOARD Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism 2-1-2, Kasumigaseki, Chiyoda-ku Tokyo 100-8918 Japan Website: http://www.mlit.go.jp/jtsb/english.html
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Abnormal runway contact during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
The aircraft
- Landing gear: fixed
- Fire on the ground
- Operator: Fedex Corporation
The flight
- Departed from: CAN Guangzho
- Destination: NRT Narita
- Flight plan: IFR
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.