I would advise all those new to UAV's to do the same.
I agree with Steve. Here's a good way to start. After firing up your system and only after insuring you have sat lock and Home Point locked in do the following. (Do this on a very calm day, in a clear area).
Take the bird up about 50-60' go out about 100', let it hover for a few seconds, now while keeping your finger on the mode switch, move it to the center position ("A"-"ATTI") watch what it does, it'll stay at the correct altitude but it will start to drift. If you get nervous, just flip the switch back to the upper position ("P'-"P-GPS") and the sat lock will take over again.
Once you understand what it's doing fly it around a bit in the "A" position. Keep doing this until you get comfortable. As you get more comfortable try taking off and landing in the "A" position. Once you can take-off, fly and land in the "A" position, you're in pretty good shape to counteract a loss of GPS lock. This is probably the most likely cause of panic, crashes and the dreaded flyaway, short of an actual equipment failure.
Once comfortable with this process, go out further and try to bring the bird home in the "A" mode. You'll find that it will be very easy to get disoriented. You will need to use your map, compass and screen to bring her home. When you can safely do so, you've moved up another notch in avoiding most of the situations that you read about on these threads.
Also, while in GPS mode (P-GPS), learn to use "HL" (Home Lock). If you lose sight of your bird but you have sat lock, you will be able to get your bird back without initiating an "RTH" or Return To Home. If you Lose sight of your bird, increase your altitude to insure you won't hit any obstacles in any direction on your return, enable "HL" (Home Lock), now pull back on the right stick (depending on stick orientation settings) and keep holding it down. No matter where your bird is it will start coming back to your Home position in a straight line from wherever it is, once in sight, disable "HL" and you're flying again.
Personally, I have never initiated an RTH except to test it. Initiating an RTH can be confusing, at least for me. I want complete control of my bird at all times unless I'm making a completely autonomous flight.
Anyway, my point is, learn how to fly comfortable in "A" (ATTI) mode, learn how to use the different flight modes and learn how to use HL (Home Lock) and CL (Course Lock). In my opinion, if you take the time to learn these various methods of flight, you'll be able to alleviate 95% of the causes for crashed or lost birds. Just my opinion, of course. Have fun and fly safe!
Jerry