A319 flight crew reports being struck by driver-less van shortly after push back and prior to taxi.

Attributes
ACN	737296
Time
Date	200705
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : ord.airport
State Reference	IL
Altitude	agl single value : 0
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	A319
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	ground : pushback
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 270 flight time total : 11000 flight time type : 1575
ASRS Report	737296
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 125 flight time total : 10000 flight time type : 1500
ASRS Report	737295
Events
Anomaly	ground encounters : vehicle non adherence : company policies
Independent Detector	other flight crewa other flight crewb
Resolutory Action	none taken : unable
Consequence	other other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Company
Primary Problem	Company

Narrative:

After pushback from the gate; while starting engines; prior to movement under own power; we noticed a van moving backwards from another gate. After a short time; we noticed a person on the ramp chasing after the van. It then became apparent that the van was unoccupied (couldn't see driver's side or the van); and was going to strike our aircraft. We immediately shut down engines (prior to impact). Van impacted aircraft just forward of left engine; at approximately 5-10 mph. Tug driver came back out and plugged in; and I inquired if we had any apparent leaks (of fuel); with none being observed. Called dispatch to see if we needed to leave aircraft and van untouched until investigation complete; or if maintenance could remove van. Dispatch said let maintenance take charge of situation. Maintenance and other supervisors then arrived to take charge of situation. Van was removed from under aircraft and aircraft towed back to the gate; where passenger were deplaned. Debriefed with supervisors and chief pilot. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: reporter could supply no information beyond that given in the report except that the aircraft was taken out of service.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A319 FLT CREW REPORTS BEING STRUCK BY DRIVER-LESS VAN SHORTLY AFTER PUSH BACK AND PRIOR TO TAXI.

Narrative: AFTER PUSHBACK FROM THE GATE; WHILE STARTING ENGS; PRIOR TO MOVEMENT UNDER OWN PWR; WE NOTICED A VAN MOVING BACKWARDS FROM ANOTHER GATE. AFTER A SHORT TIME; WE NOTICED A PERSON ON THE RAMP CHASING AFTER THE VAN. IT THEN BECAME APPARENT THAT THE VAN WAS UNOCCUPIED (COULDN'T SEE DRIVER'S SIDE OR THE VAN); AND WAS GOING TO STRIKE OUR ACFT. WE IMMEDIATELY SHUT DOWN ENGS (PRIOR TO IMPACT). VAN IMPACTED ACFT JUST FORWARD OF L ENG; AT APPROX 5-10 MPH. TUG DRIVER CAME BACK OUT AND PLUGGED IN; AND I INQUIRED IF WE HAD ANY APPARENT LEAKS (OF FUEL); WITH NONE BEING OBSERVED. CALLED DISPATCH TO SEE IF WE NEEDED TO LEAVE ACFT AND VAN UNTOUCHED UNTIL INVESTIGATION COMPLETE; OR IF MAINT COULD REMOVE VAN. DISPATCH SAID LET MAINT TAKE CHARGE OF SITUATION. MAINT AND OTHER SUPVRS THEN ARRIVED TO TAKE CHARGE OF SITUATION. VAN WAS REMOVED FROM UNDER ACFT AND ACFT TOWED BACK TO THE GATE; WHERE PAX WERE DEPLANED. DEBRIEFED WITH SUPVRS AND CHIEF PLT. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: REPORTER COULD SUPPLY NO INFORMATION BEYOND THAT GIVEN IN THE REPORT EXCEPT THAT THE ACFT WAS TAKEN OUT OF SERVICE.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 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.