A pilot focused on safety should "know his stuff" regardless of which airplane they pilot. In my opinion, that is not type-specific.
My Piper Malibu model, at one time, had a number of accidents all in short succession. The FAA issued an emergency directive that they could only be flown in VFR conditions (not instrument conditions) and limiting the peak altitude. After a very long and exhaustive review, it was determined the plane and its design was just fine. The training was insufficient to prepare pilots to use the capabilities of the airplane, and to not overexpect what the plane could do. Apparently too many pilots thought they achieved airline pilot status flying an invincible machine when they stepped up to a Malibu. They were venturing into weather conditions the plane was not capable of handling.
In all my time here, I don't recall ever hearing that you should rule out certain brands or models of tractor because the safety record of that brand or model is lower than the competition. But put two wings on, and many seem to adopt that view. In my opinion, if you start first with a small plane, build some time, then graduate to the next level, you are doing it right if you also receive the training necessary to be familiar with the machine you are operating. All planes have quirks, and if you are trained on how to avoid or deal with those, that promotes safety.
Turning this whole issue around, I came from a flying background to then become a tractor owner. Lots of training before being turned loose with an airplane, virtually zero training when my tractor was delivered and no training at all on attaching and using implements. None. No safety suggestions at all about getting near the spinning PTO. I started a thread here a while ago asking if lack of training was killing tractor operators. I was surprised by the somewhat angry pushback by some that training should not be offered in any fashion under any circumstances. That was quite a surprise since it is so different from my past experience.
