Narrative:

Brakes parked just after pushback. Before taxi checklist complete except my rudder control check. Prior to receiving ground crew departure salute; I asked the first officer to call for taxi in an effort to alert ground control and another carrier's jet also pushing back (uncontrolled ramp). Upon receiving taxi clearance from ground control; I instinctively released the brakes and began the taxi forward. Simultaneously; the first officer said 'stop'; I realized my error; and I heard an unusual noise below. In quick order; I stopped the aircraft and parked the brakes. The tug driver (still connected) informed me that I had 'run over' the tow bar during my short taxi. After confirming no one was hurt in the incident; I called operations for maintenance to assess damage; if any. Maintenance determined (through conversations with maintenance control) that the aircraft needed a single nose tire change; but that is was safe to taxi to the gate. I believe there was some damage to the tow bar. After tire change; normal flight to filed destination. This incident reinforced to me the importance of exact procedural compliance and how any deviations can impact safety (other's lives) in our operations. In the future; I will be more aggressive in ensuring strict checklist discipline; specifically making no radio calls until receiving a departure salute and satisfactorily clearing the area before beginning taxi. I am extremely fortunate that my error did not result in injury of our push crew.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A MD-80 Captain began taxiing and ran into the recently disconnected tow bar; damaging a nose tire before the Push Back crew gave a cleared to taxi release.

Narrative: Brakes parked just after pushback. Before taxi checklist complete except my rudder control check. Prior to receiving ground crew departure salute; I asked the First Officer to call for taxi in an effort to alert Ground Control and another carrier's jet also pushing back (uncontrolled ramp). Upon receiving taxi clearance from Ground Control; I instinctively released the brakes and began the taxi forward. Simultaneously; the First Officer said 'stop'; I realized my error; and I heard an unusual noise below. In quick order; I stopped the aircraft and parked the brakes. The Tug Driver (still connected) informed me that I had 'run over' the tow bar during my short taxi. After confirming no one was hurt in the incident; I called Operations for Maintenance to assess damage; if any. Maintenance determined (through conversations with Maintenance Control) that the aircraft needed a single nose tire change; but that is was safe to taxi to the gate. I believe there was some damage to the tow bar. After tire change; normal flight to filed destination. This incident reinforced to me the importance of exact procedural compliance and how any deviations can impact safety (other's lives) in our operations. In the future; I will be more aggressive in ensuring strict checklist discipline; specifically making no radio calls until receiving a departure salute and satisfactorily clearing the area before beginning taxi. I am extremely fortunate that my error did not result in injury of our push crew.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2013 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.