As said above flying is about as safe as riding a Motoycycle in raw numbers however 75% of motorcycle accidents are the fault of the other driver, in the air there is far less chance of getting hit by another aircraft that you did not see.
Flying accidents are largely due to pilot error with only a few accidents due to mechanical failure.
So the chances of having an accident in a light aircraft are very much reduced if you fly with a pilot who is current in an aircraft that is well maintained, fly in an old dog of an aircraft that has had minimum maintenance with a pilot who has flown two hours in the last six months and the chances of an accident rocket to a point at which jumping busses on a motorcycle looks safe.
Last edited by A and C; 20th Sep 2012 at 13:22.