B737-700 flight crew reported that during pushback the tug became disconnected from the tow bar; and...

Attributes
ACN	1322319
Time
Date	201601
Local Time Of Day	1801-2400
Place
Locale Reference	MCO.Airport
State Reference	FL
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	B737-700
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Taxi
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Function	Captain
Qualification	Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 198 Flight Crew Type 13300
Person 2
Function	First Officer
Qualification	Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 82 Flight Crew Type 82
Events
Anomaly	Ground Event / Encounter Vehicle

Narrative:

With all normal checklists complete and an early departure from the gate; immediately after brake release (on pushback) the tow bar apparently became disconnected from the tug; and the tug collided with the aircraft. Two or three loud bangs were heard and felt by the crew. I very quickly asked the driver what had happened and did not receive a response. My first officer stated that the tug was sitting to the right side of the aircraft. I opened my cockpit window and yelled down to the ground crew and asked what had happened. The tug driver told me that the tug had malfunctioned. I informed him that I was going to reset the parking brake. I then completed a parking checklist; communicated with the crew; passengers; operations; dispatch; and chief pilot on duty.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B737-700 flight crew reported that during pushback the tug became disconnected from the tow bar; and the tug collided with the aircraft.

Narrative: With all normal checklists complete and an early departure from the gate; immediately after brake release (on pushback) the tow bar apparently became disconnected from the tug; and the tug collided with the aircraft. Two or three loud bangs were heard and felt by the crew. I very quickly asked the driver what had happened and did not receive a response. My First Officer stated that the tug was sitting to the right side of the aircraft. I opened my cockpit window and yelled down to the ground crew and asked what had happened. The tug driver told me that the tug had malfunctioned. I informed him that I was going to reset the parking brake. I then completed a parking checklist; communicated with the crew; passengers; Operations; Dispatch; and Chief Pilot on duty.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site 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.