AS A B737-300 TAXIES FOR TKOF AT LAS; NV; IT STRIKES A GND TUG AND RECEIVES DAMAGE TO THE L NOSE LNDG GEAR DOOR AND L FORWARD NOSE FUSELAGE AREA.

Narrative

CLRNC FROM LAS GND CTL WAS OBTAINED; AND OUR AIRPLANE WAS PUSHED BACK FROM GATE XX. THE PUSHBACK TOOK THE AIRPLANE MUCH FURTHER THAN NORMAL FROM THE GATE INTO AN UNLIGHTED AREA OF THE TXWY. THE GND PUSHBACK DIRECTOR REQUESTED BRAKES SET; AND THE CAPT SET THE BRAKES. AFTER A NORMAL DISCONNECT; THE CAPT OBSERVED A STANDARD SALUTE AND RELEASE FROM GUIDANCE FROM THE PUSHBACK DIRECTOR; AND ANNOUNCED 'SALUTE; RELEASED FROM GUIDANCE.' THE FO RECEIVED TAXI CLRNC TO RWY 19R. THE CAPT VISUALLY CLRED THE VERY DARK AREA OVER HIS L SHOULDER; AND THE FO VISUALLY CLRED THE AREA TO THE R OF THE AIRPLANE. THE CAPT THEN STARTED A SLOW TAXI STRAIGHT AHEAD FOR A COUPLE OF FEET AND THEN TURNED R TO AVOID THE ACR Y B737 THAT HAD STOPPED AND WAITED FOR OUR FLT TO CLR THE TAXI AREA IN FRONT OF HIM. THE AIRPLANE MOVED APPROX 12-15 FT AND THE FO OBSERVED A TAXI DIRECTOR HOLDING HIS TAXI WANDS IN THE CROSSED 'STOP' POS. THE FO SAID 'STOP.' AS THE CAPT QUICKLY STOPPED THE AIRPLANE; HE FELT AND HEARD SOMETHING STRIKE THE FORWARD L FUSELAGE AREA. THE CAPT SET THE PARKING BRAKES; OPENED THE COCKPIT EXIT WINDOW TO HIS L; LEANED HIS HEAD AND SHOULDER OUT THE WINDOW; AND NOTICED A TUG RESTING AGAINST THE L FUSELAGE AREA. NO PERSONNEL WERE INJURED; THE AIRPLANE SUSTAINED DAMAGE TO THE L NOSE LNDG GEAR DOOR; AND THE L FORWARD NOSE FUSELAGE AREA.