"Jim Logajan" wrote in message
.. .
wrote:
The glider pilot fatality rate is one of the highest of any activity.

I've been looking for accident statistics for gliding/soaring and haven't
come across any formal studies. So the assertion above comes somthing as a
surprise and it would be greatly appreciated if you can provide the
location of any supporting data. I know of some cross-modal studies that
indicate that helicopters appear to have a higher accident rate on a per
mile and hour flown than fixed wing aircraft, and that motorcycles are
more
dangerous than general aviation flying, but gliders weren't split out into
their own category in those studies.

Actually, cross-modal accident studies are, in general, hard to find so
I'm
always curious to know the source of any such claims.

It's confusing to address relative safety as it relates to the 'sport' as
opposed to the pilot. A glider, in and of itself, is neither dangerous or
safe. It's only when you put a human pilot in it and launch it into the air
that the activity can become dangerous. One statistic that comes through
loud and clear is that 99% of all glider accidents are pilot error.

So, I tend to agree with Tom Knauf. The safety issue almost entirely
involves pilot knowledge, skill and whether the pilot chooses to use them on
any particular flight. If you are to survive, you must accept that it's
only your knowledge, skills and a determination to use them on every flight
that will assure survival.

Flying is highly Darwinian. As a pilot you must know two sets of rules. One
set is, of course, flying regulations. The other set is Mother Nature's
laws - like gravity, weather and aerodynamics. Regulations are to keep you
safe. Mother Nature just wants to clean the gene pool. Cross Her and She'll
kill you without mercy.

Bill Daniels
"If you can avoid the really stupid mistakes, what's left is manageable."