It is interesting to note that most of the accidents are related to people, not machines. The classic "old aeroplanes" excuse is a lame one, which is not usually relevent, unless of course you are selling new aeroplanes. Old aeroplanes can be very useful, and safe if they are properly looked after, and well operated. Most of Australia's G.A. fleet is about half way through it's useful life. Most are younger than our military aircraft. Cessna, Piper and Beechcraft, are now producing aircraft that are 30 year old designs. Much the same as the ones we already have. Most qantas aeroplanes have more hours, than the average G.A. machines, and some of the rattly Boeings scare me even if they are only a few years old. The 747 at Longreach has over 90,000 hours!
The main problems with G.A. is that G.A. is legislated away from the money, flooded with low time newbies, has a regulator they do not trust, and a shortage of LAME's. No-one will invest money under these conditions.
So It is underfunded, has an inexperienced and negative workforce, and appaers to be treated with contempt by the authourities and the newbies who plan use it temporarily.
Supervision, audits, checklists etc will not solve anything.The basic problems must be dealt with first.
This is very important for most of Australia where the roads have not yet been built. But our regulators live in coastal cities, so they do not know. And they do not know that they do not know.