"John Mason" wrote in message
...
A good place for statistics is:

http://www.esgc.co.uk/BGAdata.htm

Search and study the reports. There is much written between the lines.
If
you look at the number of accidents where the launch was originally a
winch
launch you will find that a lot of accidents occur soon after the launch
is
completed and are attributed to other factors but which would really not
have happened if they had aerotowed. (Rigging errors not found in the
speed
of the launch, not watching airspeed and spinning after the launch because
of distraction with the high workload of the winch and not dealing with
the
angle of attack in the launch properly and so on). It is not possible to
give clear cut statistics without a significant degree of human
interpretation and you will really need to make your own mind up. I am
certain winching is a lot more dangerous. There are more things that can
go
wrong and if they can go wrong, they will given time.


John, the only way to see the data in the way you suggest is with a
prejudiced eye. If a pilot can't fly a glider under stress or rig it
properly, he's just an accident looking for a place to happen. It doesn't
matter how the glider is launched.

Bill Daniels