The 1 in 500 was in a account I read written by a professional pilot. I also know that life insurance underwriters will ask applicants “Do you fly non-commercially?” They ask that for a good reason. I personally knew 3 pilots who died and a couple who crash landed with serious injuries.
Things have improved technically by light-years since then.
As for Texas, you are right. We had full Citation training there and I ‘heard’ he’d been there. Maybe not...
Please be reasonable. There are thousands of general aviation aircraft operations per day. That means there should be dozens of fatalities every day.
Sure, underwriters ask about flying. I own two life insurance policies. If the fatal rate was one in 500, do you think anyone would insure me?