Those of us not doing low-level air show routines or crop spraying would do well to have a maneuver floor, below which we confine ourselves to a narrow list: i.e. turns to crosswind and final + 300' as minimum altitude to return to the field after a rope break for gliders.
700' AGL is my maneuver floor. If ATC wants me to orbit, I'm first climbing to that level before beginning an orbit.
Every flight school would do well to put this accident report on their bulletin board and discuss before soloing students.