Narrative:

During arrival at gate; the area was scanned and clear of all personnel; and all equipment was behind the painted lines. While approaching the gate and adhering to instructions from guidance; a baggage cart was suddenly in front of the aircraft. I aggressively applied brakes to avoid a collision. No collision occurred and no one was injured on the aircraft as a result of my braking action. I contacted dispatch; the flight manager; and the ramp supervisor. The guide man involved also joined in on the debriefing and stated he was taken by surprise as well. The baggage cart was pulled by a tug which he never saw.

Related reports:

Google
 

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B757-200 CAPTAIN AGGRESSIVELY APPLIES BRAKES WHEN A BAGGAGE CART APPEARED SUDDENLY WHILE APPROACHING THE GATE; THE AREA WAS CLEAR WHEN PARKING BEGAN.

Narrative: DURING ARR AT GATE; THE AREA WAS SCANNED AND CLEAR OF ALL PERSONNEL; AND ALL EQUIP WAS BEHIND THE PAINTED LINES. WHILE APCHING THE GATE AND ADHERING TO INSTRUCTIONS FROM GUIDANCE; A BAGGAGE CART WAS SUDDENLY IN FRONT OF THE ACFT. I AGGRESSIVELY APPLIED BRAKES TO AVOID A COLLISION. NO COLLISION OCCURRED AND NO ONE WAS INJURED ON THE ACFT AS A RESULT OF MY BRAKING ACTION. I CONTACTED DISPATCH; THE FLT MGR; AND THE RAMP SUPVR. THE GUIDE MAN INVOLVED ALSO JOINED IN ON THE DEBRIEFING AND STATED HE WAS TAKEN BY SURPRISE AS WELL. THE BAGGAGE CART WAS PULLED BY A TUG WHICH HE NEVER SAW.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of May 2009 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.