A B767-200 after pushback started to taxi before the tow bar was disconnected.

Attributes
ACN	379951
Time
Date	199709
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : phl
State Reference	PA
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B767-200
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	ground : preflight ground other : taxi other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 240 flight time total : 12000 flight time type : 3500
ASRS Report	379951
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	conflict : ground critical non adherence : published procedure other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

We pushed back from gate xx. During the push, as usual, I monitored ramp control frequency as well as running all the required checklists pertaining to the engine start and after start. During this process my attention was primarily directed into the cockpit, with occasional glances outside to verify our push progress. After both engines had been started, I noted (all after start checklists had also been completed) that we were still in the same spot that the tug had pushed us to. I called for taxi, was cleared to spot X, visually and orally confirmed that we were clear on the right side of the aircraft. We began (slowly) to taxi, when we heard a 'thunk' sound and immediately stopped and set brakes. Evidently, after the push, the tug crew (after saying good-bye) had problems releasing the tow bar. Consequently, even after performing all the required checklists, engine starts and ground calls, they were still there, but I couldn't see them over the nose of the aircraft. It should be noted that due to the high workload during most pushbacks, it is not unusual for me not to see the push crew give a 'thumbs up' or even fail to see them pull away.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A B767-200 AFTER PUSHBACK STARTED TO TAXI BEFORE THE TOW BAR WAS DISCONNECTED.

Narrative: WE PUSHED BACK FROM GATE XX. DURING THE PUSH, AS USUAL, I MONITORED RAMP CTL FREQ AS WELL AS RUNNING ALL THE REQUIRED CHKLISTS PERTAINING TO THE ENG START AND AFTER START. DURING THIS PROCESS MY ATTN WAS PRIMARILY DIRECTED INTO THE COCKPIT, WITH OCCASIONAL GLANCES OUTSIDE TO VERIFY OUR PUSH PROGRESS. AFTER BOTH ENGS HAD BEEN STARTED, I NOTED (ALL AFTER START CHKLISTS HAD ALSO BEEN COMPLETED) THAT WE WERE STILL IN THE SAME SPOT THAT THE TUG HAD PUSHED US TO. I CALLED FOR TAXI, WAS CLRED TO SPOT X, VISUALLY AND ORALLY CONFIRMED THAT WE WERE CLR ON THE R SIDE OF THE ACFT. WE BEGAN (SLOWLY) TO TAXI, WHEN WE HEARD A 'THUNK' SOUND AND IMMEDIATELY STOPPED AND SET BRAKES. EVIDENTLY, AFTER THE PUSH, THE TUG CREW (AFTER SAYING GOOD-BYE) HAD PROBS RELEASING THE TOW BAR. CONSEQUENTLY, EVEN AFTER PERFORMING ALL THE REQUIRED CHKLISTS, ENG STARTS AND GND CALLS, THEY WERE STILL THERE, BUT I COULDN'T SEE THEM OVER THE NOSE OF THE ACFT. IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT DUE TO THE HIGH WORKLOAD DURING MOST PUSHBACKS, IT IS NOT UNUSUAL FOR ME NOT TO SEE THE PUSH CREW GIVE A 'THUMBS UP' OR EVEN FAIL TO SEE THEM PULL AWAY.

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.