I don't know if this will start a fight or not but anyway....
In NZ we do have a few accidents and people do get killed thats life.
But about %90 of these accidents are caused by private pilots. There are very few problems with profesional pilots as they fly there light a/c into mountianous terrian into bush strips nearly everyday in all sorts of varying weather.
The fact is these professional pilots have to do load sheets and in the old days p-charts they know the strips they fly into like the back of there hands and the weather, they know when to fly and when to call it quites and go to the pub(which is often).
But then you get a ppl who flies once a month to keep his skills up doesn't have to do any load sheets doesn't know the weather or the area etc.
At some time the ppl is going to get into trouble and only good luck that saves many!
but the problem is when there is a mishap as stated in other posts it always makes the headlines. Given light aircraft a bad name?
Always remember aircraft are the same as cars they don't crash themselfs!
Highly recommend doing your ppl make sure you get a good instructor and keep asking questions?