PaPa,

Obviously I would not be able to cover every reason for crashing, but there are controlled situations where it can and will happen anyway - including the use of an instructor.

Reasons why the student and instructor might crash during flight:
1. Radio interference from another pilot using the same frequency as you. There are 6 other people using "my" frequency at the club that I fly at, I am the seventh... and that channel is 46.

At the club field, there will, or should be, a "frequency board" with all of the frequency numbers on cards... as you arrive, you'll place your AMA or AMAC membership card on a hook next to that particular frequency card... then you take that card and place it on your table (a.k.a. "hanger")... when somebody else shows up at the field with the same frequency, they're not suppose to turn on their radio if the number is not there, and by having your AMAC card in it's place, they'll know who is flying on that frequency, and may ask you for it when your done (or sooner if you're not in the air and just hanging around waiting).

Which leads me back to the earlier point made of getting the best radio you can afford, because a plain FM radio is just that. And if that's all you can afford, then that's one (small) risk you'll have to take and don't worry too much about it, just be aware of it.

If you have a little extra in the budget, it may be wise to purchase a radio that has interchangable frequency modules, Futaba calls them PCM, and JR calls them something else, but the standard radio is set to a frequency and that's it.

If you have a PCM (or whatever), and you're flying... and someone else comes along and does a preflight check and turns on their radio, or if they left the house with it on, and come into range of yours, with out the PCM (or whatever), your plane (and control), are TOAST!

With the PCM, your plane will simply straighten out (neutral) and fly ahead until the frequency interference goes away... hopefully it'll be a short burst.

2. Mid-air collision, wind gust, you break your wing spar, your batteries die (which leads me back again to spending a little more money, for things like a "VoltWatch"), and the list goes on...

3. Your flying with your trainer, but they decide to cut you loose and you do it all to yourself.

There is a saying in motorcycling, "You're either a rider whos' gone down, or you're a rider who's going down.", and the same applys to this.

Don't stay up nights worrying about it, just have a little extra in the piggy bank to cover the cost(s) of repair(s).

But what do I know, I'm still just a rookie.