Starting an engine during pushback on a slippery ramp resulted in a loss of control by the tug drive...

Attributes
ACN	866570
Time
Date	200912
Local Time Of Day	0601-1200
Place
Locale Reference	ZZZ.Airport
State Reference	US
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	B737-700
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Taxi
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Function	Captain Pilot Flying
Qualification	Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 180 Flight Crew Type 12000
Events
Anomaly	Ground Event / Encounter Other / Unknown

Narrative:

It was VFR and very windy when we landed and taxied to the gate. The entire ramp area was covered with hard packed snow and all operations were being conducted at a very slow and deliberate pace. I would have called the braking action fair and would have described the situation as normal winter ops. We turned the airplane and started our pushback. Just as the number one engine started; the tug driver called out; 'you're pushing me! You're pushing me!' I set the parking brake and noticed that the pushback tug was at a 90 degree angle to the plane. I then shut down both engines. The tug driver reported no damage had been done and we decided that he should disconnect from the aircraft and that once he was clear; I would start engines. I did this and the remainder of the flight was uneventful.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: Starting an engine during pushback on a slippery ramp resulted in a loss of control by the tug driver.

Narrative: It was VFR and very windy when we landed and taxied to the gate. The entire ramp area was covered with hard packed snow and all operations were being conducted at a very slow and deliberate pace. I would have called the braking action fair and would have described the situation as normal winter ops. We turned the airplane and started our pushback. Just as the number one engine started; the tug driver called out; 'You're pushing me! You're pushing me!' I set the parking brake and noticed that the pushback tug was at a 90 degree angle to the plane. I then shut down both engines. The Tug Driver reported no damage had been done and we decided that he should disconnect from the aircraft and that once he was clear; I would start engines. I did this and the remainder of the flight was uneventful.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 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.