Primary finding
Probable cause
the captain's not maintaining crew/group coordination. Factors were the captain's diverted attention and his not maintaining visual separation.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The airplane received a pushback from the gate by a tug. The captain made one communication with the tug attendant and then became involved in a discussion with the first officer regarding taxi instructions. When he looked out for a wingwalker he saw no one and assumed that the tug had departed and the pervious communication was confirmation of that. When power was applied he heard a loud noise, applied brakes to stop the airplane realizing that the airplane had taxied into the tug.
Source record
Factual narrative
On June 3, 1995, at 1130 central daylight time, an Airbus Industries A320-211, N326US, operating as Northwest Airlines Flight 115, collided with a tug on the ramp at the Minneapolis- St. Paul Airport resulting in substantial damage. The crew of 7 and 108 passengers reported no injuries. The 14 CFR Part 121 flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions. An IFR flight plan was on file. The flight was originating at the time of the accident with an intended destination of Orange County, California. The Captain stated that after pushback from the gate he communicated with the pushback tug operator and then his attention was diverted to details inside the cockpit. When he looked out in preparation to taxiing he did not see the wingwalker or tug and "assumed" that he had received a "waveoff." As power was applied and the airplane began to move he heard a loud noise and applied the brakes to stop the airplane. He then realized that he had collided with the pushback tug. -