Snake,

LEARN TO FLY!!!

Yes, most crashes are deadly, but they don't need to be. In over 20 years of SAR with Civil Air Patrol in the Rockies, many survived the crash, and many more could have if they had known how to deal with a glider (with a very poor glide ratio). My father started flying when they were "unexpected landings", not crashes. Lost 2 B-17's and several other aircraft during WWII. Put them all down and never lost a crewmember. His contention was that you could land an airplane anywhere and walk away from it. I think he was pretty close to right. It is true that most crashes are not survived, but most survival kits are owned by pilots who will probably not have a crash - because they are planning ahead and avoid the problem. So, in a way the survival kit helps to prevent the accident ;-). It is certainly a sign. Just like being on this forum.

The biggest mistake is not flying the aircraft to the ground. Stall/Spin is not the way to walk away from it. The second is trying to save the airplane.

Respectfully,

Jerry