I've been at this long enough and had enough crashes that I don't really remember exactly which was the first crash. The first crash that comes to mind that totaled a plane out was a standard class glider - fuselage broke on a strong high start launch. Looped off the high start and lawn darted straight in. I still have the wings someplace in a box and the fuselage was toast.

Here's a few more memorable incidents:

I was flying my Sig Kavalier in a farm field in Florida (around 1981) shooting touch-n-go's when a gust of wind caught it on a steep pull-up. The nose went to vertical about 30' high. As it flipped onto its back I tried to fly it out inverted but didn't have enough altitude to save it. I still have the landing gear and tail.

I had a Bridi Sun-Fli 4-20 that we put a buddies brand new K&B .40 (model 8011) and new radio into. My buddy was flying it when I heard him yell "Oh-S***"! It hit a road (we where flying in a housing development that had the roads laid in but no other work done), bounced a good 20' in the air fully intact and explode. Nothing was worth saving. The engine was bent and wouldn't turn, the radio components where in multiple pieces, and we never found the battery pack. He got disoriented rolling it and was inverted at low altitude thinking he was right side up and pulled up elevator which caused it to head for the ground. That was probably the best crash I've seen.

I was flying a Sig Astro Hogs a few years back when it went into elevator flutter, blew the left stab off, and pitched down hitting the ground. It bounced a good 50' into the air when the engine parted company (it had only one blade left on it, still running, after it hit the ground). This was the 6 flight for the plane and engine (OS .61 SF). I managed to stabilize the plane but when it dropped vertically it pancaked on the ground and broke in half. The engine continued upwards and came down on the centerline of the runway. Surprisingly it blew the muffler apart, broke the front muffler bolt boss off and blew the carb out. I have the engine in the back room and it's still turns over fine. I have the airframe rebuilt and ready for covering. The original builder (I got it at an estate sale) put one of the elevator control horn attach screws through the elevator joiner dowel and it didn't take long for it to break.

Most recent was my Herr Lil' Extra. One of these days I'll figure out I can't snap roll it at 3' and expect it to keep flying every time.

Hogflyer