The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) has found that there were 130 accidents, 121 serious incidents and 6,823 incidents involving Australian-registered aircraft in 2011, according to its latest statistical report.
"Aviation occurrence statistics provide a reminder to everyone involved in the operation of aircraft that accidents, incidents and injuries happen more often than is widely believed," the report said.
"Some of the most frequent accident types are preventable, particularly in general aviation."
An online report by the Australian said that in spite of fatalities being more common on private aircraft, commercial air transport wracked up more incidents in 2011 than in any other year in the past decade, with a total of 4,907 incidents, two accidents and 10 serious incidents recorded.
Sixteen were killed in accidents involving private and emergency service planes last year, and there were two deaths on airline flights.
Among the accidents registered last year were a cargo flight that disappeared while trying to land in the Torres Strait Islands, a Boeing 777 that flew just 1,000 feet above suburban Melbourne and an ABC helicopter tragically lost on a flight over Lake Eyre.
Another accident involved a Virgin Australia 737-800 jet colliding with a parked Air New Zealand plane while preparing to takeoff for a flight from Christchurch to Melbourne on September 1.
In addition, a first officer of a Qantas Boeing 747 was seriously injured after being hit by a high-thrust jet blast that knocked down the stairs he was standing on at Brisbane airport in October.
The report found that most serious incidents involved planes flying too close together and engine issues.
Another cause of accidents were bird strikes and failure to comply with air traffic control.