1. Private planes have a much worse safety record than airlines. One reason is that private pilots don’t get as much experience as professional pilots, and few have sufficient funds to provide the same level of maintenance as airlines or the armed forces.
2. While planes may have a better safety record than surface transit, the liklihood of surviving an airplance crash is much less. Remember that if your car, bus or train develops mechanical trouble, you are at most delayed. If a plane develops mechanical problems in flight, it is likely to be fatal.