What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(.4)The airplane received a pushback from the gate by a tug. The captain made one communication with the tug attendant and then became involved in a discussion with the first officer regarding taxi instructions. When he looked out for a wingwalker he saw no one and assumed that the tug had departed and the pervious communication was confirmation of that. When power was applied he heard a loud noise, applied brakes to stop the airplane realizing that the airplane had taxied into the tug.
As the FAA filed it
(.4)THE AIRPLANE RECEIVED A PUSHBACK FROM THE GATE BY A TUG. THE CAPTAIN MADE ONE COMMUNICATION WITH THE TUG ATTENDANT AND THEN BECAME INVOLVED IN A DISCUSSION WITH THE FIRST OFFICER REGARDING TAXI INSTRUCTIONS. WHEN HE LOOKED OUT FOR A WINGWALKER HE SAW NO ONE AND ASSUMED THAT THE TUG HAD DEPARTED AND THE PERVIOUS COMMUNICATION WAS CONFIRMATION OF THAT. WHEN POWER WAS APPLIED HE HEARD A LOUD NOISE, APPLIED BRAKES TO STOP THE AIRPLANE REALIZING THAT THE AIRPLANE HAD TAXIED INTO THE TUG.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.