Also, the UAL flight 232, in Sioux City is right up there, not a perfect outcome, but far better than most would think, given the circumstances.
From what I've heard, pilots in a simulator couldn't reproduce the outcome... There's something to be said for having your ass on the line.
I'm with Eric, more automation hasn't made cars any safer, why would it make aircraft safer? It just seems to make people stop thinking when operating them.