Too many accidents

On Wednesday, September 5, 2018 at 3:44:09 PM UTC-7, sisu1a wrote:
On Wednesday, September 5, 2018 at 3:30:06 PM UTC-7, Ramy wrote:
On Wednesday, September 5, 2018 at 2:44:55 PM UTC-7, Andy Blackburn wrote:
This is a terrible topic to be sure so I hesitate to get analytical.

Sadly, this year is not yet out of the ordinary. Over the past ten years the average number of glider accidents per year reported to the NTSB is 25.2. So far this year we are at 17 (including the tragic event over the weekend). Fatal accidents over ten years have averaged 5.2. This year we are at 6. The probable causes this year seem not inconsistent with the overall trend, though obviously we have less information about more recent accidents. The mix of aircraft type/performance has not been significantly different from a casual review.

I think we tend to block bad memories out over time, but we have always paid a terrible price for our beautiful sport.

Respectfully,

Andy Blackburn
9B

We need to count passengers as well. I counted 10 so far in the US which were mentioned on RAS:
Avenal - 1
Grand Teton - 2
Arizona - 2
Vermont - 3
Truckee - 2

This is not just an anomaly. This is double the average.
Also the seemingly trend of decline in fatality rate over the years is an illusion. The number of participants declining in even faster rate.

Ramy

Ramy

Not trying to derail, but can you elaborate on the passenger thing at Avenal? I'm only aware of the one accident their from last May, which was a pilot in his personal single place. Other than that an owner in a single place (HP-14) in the 90's spun in from a rigging error.

Avenal was a single pilot. so are the fatalities in Arizona and Moriarty. I mistakenly counted them both as Arizona.
So the correct list is:
Avenal - 1
Grand Teton - 2 (pilot + passenger)
Arizona - 1
Moriarty - 1
Vermont - 3 (pilot + 2 passengers)
Truckee - 2 (pilot + passenger who was also a pilot)
Total 10