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Why is it that small planes crash more often then the large planes?

I have noticed that there have been lots of smaller planes crash a lot lately. You hear more about those then about the large airlines crashing. Why is that?

Public Comments

1. i think it is because the pilots are less experienced
2. really? i havent noticed this.. but i do agree with Morgan, it must be because the more experienced pilots get the bigger aeroplanes therefore they are responsible for more people and less likely to crash.
3. There are multiple factors involved. Small plane pilots are amateurs, with that said, they do not in many cases fly for a living, they have other jobs and are recreational flyer's. They don't have the extensive training as an airline pilot. On larger planes there are more crew. If the pilot gets sick or incapacitated, the first officer can take over. The same goes for advice, the large airplane has more "brains" on the flight deck. Large airplanes are maintained by a strict set of rules. Large airplanes have more backup systems and technical aids.
4. I would suggest it's because there are a lot more of them. In the USA there are about 330,000 registered aircraft of which maybe 20,000 are commercial airliners. Should come as no surprise then that the smaller aircraft crash more often. Add the lack of experience of the non professional pilots and it's no surprise that they crash more often. That said you're still more likely to be killed in a road crash than an aircraft accident. Ian M
5. because there are probably 100 times more small aircraft in the world than there is commercial aircraft. by ratio, you are going to hear of 100 light plane crashes before hearing one big plane crash
6. unexperied pilot take it from a Navy TOP GUN graduate