I think also car crashes are generally caused by operator error. Plane crashes are more likely (maybe?) to be caused by mechanical malfunction.

The equivalent would be car crashes caused by mechanical failure where even an expert driver couldn’t have avoided catastrophe.

Though, maybe that’s balanced out by some large percentage of car crash deaths being the driver and/or passengers in the “other” car who were struck unexpectedly by a driver who was reckless, distracted or impaired.

Either way, I agree, it seems like a stretch to call plane and car crashes equivalent.