Problem fixed.
The first flight into the dirt was a CG problem. With the securing tie-down/bracket removed I could put the battery much further aft and get the CG where the manual says it should be. The second power-off crash was my fault......went back to the beginning and checked the controls - the elevators were reversed. I didn't pay that close of attention when checking them because the manual says " left and right servo connectors do not have to be connected to a particular side of a Y-harness". For what it is worth, the rudder was also backwards and that came connected from the factory. Therefore it must be the transmitter. I reversed the servos on my Spektrum DX-5E. I took it back out to the field and it flew wonderfully. I am going to love this sail plane!