DC8 crew avoids ground collision at msp on uncontrolled taxiway.

Attributes
ACN	433118
Time
Date	199904
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : msp.airport
State Reference	MN
Altitude	agl single value : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	DC-8 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	ground : taxi
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	tower : msp.tower
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	DC-10 30F
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	ground : taxi
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 50 flight time total : 7000 flight time type : 4500
ASRS Report	433118
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument pilot : multi engine
Events
Anomaly	conflict : ground less severe other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : took precautionary avoidance action
Supplementary
Problem Areas	FAA Flight Crew Human Performance Airport
Primary Problem	FAA
Situations
Airport	design : msp.airport

Narrative:

Taxiway south, south of taxiway D, is now uncontrolled at msp. We were towed from our parking position at the ramp via taxiway S4 onto taxiway south, headed north. We contacted ground, and they instructed us to taxi via taxiway C and hold short of runway 30L for runway 22 at taxiway M7. As we headed north on taxiway south, approaching taxiway S3, a DC10 was given same clearance. The DC10 at the time was west of taxiway S3, still on their ramp, headed north. Neither of us were advised of the other traffic on the taxiway. Both were given the same taxi instructions. Bear in mind, the DC10 was headed north, they could not see us as we approached taxiway S3. The DC10 turned right into our path. I made an emergency stop to avoid a collision. One could tell the controllers were confused. They asked us if we were #1. We were not. The DC10 was, as they cut us off. Taxiway south needs to be a controled taxiway. There are about 10 large jets departing the freight ramp at the same time every night. Who gets first, the biggest, the bravest? We pay controllers to keep airplanes apart -- their services are needed on taxiway south at msp.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: DC8 CREW AVOIDS GND COLLISION AT MSP ON UNCTLED TXWY.

Narrative: TXWY S, S OF TXWY D, IS NOW UNCTLED AT MSP. WE WERE TOWED FROM OUR PARKING POS AT THE RAMP VIA TXWY S4 ONTO TXWY S, HEADED N. WE CONTACTED GND, AND THEY INSTRUCTED US TO TAXI VIA TXWY C AND HOLD SHORT OF RWY 30L FOR RWY 22 AT TXWY M7. AS WE HEADED N ON TXWY S, APCHING TXWY S3, A DC10 WAS GIVEN SAME CLRNC. THE DC10 AT THE TIME WAS W OF TXWY S3, STILL ON THEIR RAMP, HEADED N. NEITHER OF US WERE ADVISED OF THE OTHER TFC ON THE TXWY. BOTH WERE GIVEN THE SAME TAXI INSTRUCTIONS. BEAR IN MIND, THE DC10 WAS HEADED N, THEY COULD NOT SEE US AS WE APCHED TXWY S3. THE DC10 TURNED RIGHT INTO OUR PATH. I MADE AN EMER STOP TO AVOID A COLLISION. ONE COULD TELL THE CTLRS WERE CONFUSED. THEY ASKED US IF WE WERE #1. WE WERE NOT. THE DC10 WAS, AS THEY CUT US OFF. TXWY S NEEDS TO BE A CTLED TXWY. THERE ARE ABOUT 10 LARGE JETS DEPARTING THE FREIGHT RAMP AT THE SAME TIME EVERY NIGHT. WHO GETS FIRST, THE BIGGEST, THE BRAVEST? WE PAY CTLRS TO KEEP AIRPLANES APART -- THEIR SVCS ARE NEEDED ON TXWY S AT MSP.

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.