[Jims5543]

I got into an argument last night with my dad. I am toying with getting my private pilots license and going partners on a private plane in the next couple of years.

Actually flip that, plane 1st then license = less cost taking lessons.

My dad flipped out and told me small planes are too dangerous and I was risking my families life flying them in one.

I did not have access to statistics but I told him the probability of me getting in a car accident far exceeded my chances of a plane accident.

I worked as a lineman at a small airfield on Long Island when I was a teen and knew of 2 accidents that killed people, one an entire family the other an individual.

In both cases I knew the pilots and they had it coming. One was a cheapskate and went down in the Atlantic killing his family because he did not refuel before comng back to the airport. He hit a strong headwind and ran out of gas. All to save a few bucks at a more expensive airfield refeuling.

Am I off base here, is flying a small plane back and forth to North Carolina from Florida a few times a year more risky than driving the same?