On Wednesday, October 23, 2013 11:33:31 PM UTC-4, Nicholas L wrote:
Are some glider designs much safer than others? Or do certain designs put their pilots at risk for certain types of injuries during a crash?


To sharpen the question to match your intention, "Are some gliders more survivable in a crash?"

One of my favorite tidbits on this topic is that the much maligned SGS 2-33 has been shown to survive a crash better than most. Part of the reason for that is that a 2-33 will probably be going slower than most when it crashes.

Some gliders are easier to spin than others, and one could argue that those types are more likely to crash when improperly piloted.