Glider Safety

The following is the first of a series of newsletters to be sent to
subscribers to my popular newsletter.
It is a topic I presented at the FAA Safety Center in Lakeland
Florida.

If this is of any interest to you, please go to our web site www.eglider.org
and click on the link on the right side of the home page to subscribe.

Tom Knauff

A TEN-YEAR REVIEW OF GLIDER ACCIDENTS

You will find information about glider accidents on the following web
site:
http://www.ntsb.gov/Aviation/Aviation.htm

This series of newsletters will review:
Accident causes.
Where they are happening.
What you can do.

Glider pilots are generally:
Intelligent
Educated
Mature
Financially well off

You would expect glider flying to be safer than most other activities.

Which is more dangerous?
Flying Gliders?
Driving Automobiles?

A common statement is: “Driving to the gliderport is more dangerous
than flying in a glider.” Unfortunately, this is not true.

Common Automobile Accident Factors
Night driving.
Alcohol, drugs.
Minimal training.
Distractions.
Speeding.
Heavy, close traffic.
Young/old drivers


Flying gliders has very few of these accident-causing factors.

You would expect glider flying to be safer than driving.

However, statistics show glider flying (USA & most countries) is much
worse.

FATALITIES PER THOUSAND
Gliders: Approximately 1 in 2,000
Autos: Approximately 1 in 6,000

Ten Year Glider Fatalities (USA)

Year
2009 8
2008 3
2007 6
2006 4
2005 6
2004 7
2003 6
2002 6
2001 6
2000 5

Total 57 fatalities.

5.7 per year.

The thirty-year average is 6.1 fatalities per year.

More to follow.

Tom Knauff