Widebody transport begins taxi prior to tug and mechanic clearing the area.

Attributes
ACN	265601
Time
Date	199403
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : pit
State Reference	PA
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	ground : preflight ground other : taxi
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 50 flight time total : 13500 flight time type : 50
ASRS Report	265601
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	conflict : ground critical non adherence : published procedure
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I was in command of flight pit to lgw. We pushed from the gate 2 hours late due to a maintenance problem. There was a steady rain falling and the temperature was 33 degrees F. The forecast was for freezing rain and I was worried about airframe icing. After pushback the mechanic informed me over the interphone that the tug was disconnected. I ordered him to disconnect and the first officer called for taxi instructions. The aircraft was cocked slightly to the right as we were anticipating a right turnout. Ground control, however, told us to turn left and proceed west of the terminal to runway 28R. I looked to the left to see if we could negotiate a tight left turn on the icy ramp and remain clear of various pieces of ground equipment on the ramp. I looked back to the front of the aircraft and could not see the mechanic on the tug. I assumed falsely that I had missed the salute and they had retreated to get out of the rain. I added power and started to turn the aircraft when I caught sight of the tug on the right side of the aircraft. At the same time the first officer ordered me to stop the aircraft because the mechanic and tug were not yet clear. I immediately pulled the power off and set the brakes. I feel if I had not caught a glimpse of the tug or if it were not for the quick action of the first officer a taxi accident might have resulted.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: WDB BEGINS TAXI PRIOR TO TUG AND MECH CLRING THE AREA.

Narrative: I WAS IN COMMAND OF FLT PIT TO LGW. WE PUSHED FROM THE GATE 2 HRS LATE DUE TO A MAINT PROB. THERE WAS A STEADY RAIN FALLING AND THE TEMP WAS 33 DEGS F. THE FORECAST WAS FOR FREEZING RAIN AND I WAS WORRIED ABOUT AIRFRAME ICING. AFTER PUSHBACK THE MECH INFORMED ME OVER THE INTERPHONE THAT THE TUG WAS DISCONNECTED. I ORDERED HIM TO DISCONNECT AND THE FO CALLED FOR TAXI INSTRUCTIONS. THE ACFT WAS COCKED SLIGHTLY TO THE R AS WE WERE ANTICIPATING A R TURNOUT. GND CTL, HOWEVER, TOLD US TO TURN L AND PROCEED W OF THE TERMINAL TO RWY 28R. I LOOKED TO THE L TO SEE IF WE COULD NEGOTIATE A TIGHT L TURN ON THE ICY RAMP AND REMAIN CLR OF VARIOUS PIECES OF GND EQUIP ON THE RAMP. I LOOKED BACK TO THE FRONT OF THE ACFT AND COULD NOT SEE THE MECH ON THE TUG. I ASSUMED FALSELY THAT I HAD MISSED THE SALUTE AND THEY HAD RETREATED TO GET OUT OF THE RAIN. I ADDED PWR AND STARTED TO TURN THE ACFT WHEN I CAUGHT SIGHT OF THE TUG ON THE R SIDE OF THE ACFT. AT THE SAME TIME THE FO ORDERED ME TO STOP THE ACFT BECAUSE THE MECH AND TUG WERE NOT YET CLR. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED THE PWR OFF AND SET THE BRAKES. I FEEL IF I HAD NOT CAUGHT A GLIMPSE OF THE TUG OR IF IT WERE NOT FOR THE QUICK ACTION OF THE FO A TAXI ACCIDENT MIGHT HAVE RESULTED.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 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.