Yes, hard manoeuvring at base height should be approached with caution! Lamp-swinging warning!
One balmy afternoon, when the earth was cooling, I was indulging in 1 v 1 ACM in a Grey Jumping Bean over the Med. Misshandled low-speed scissors at base height resulted in a full power, braking-stop nozzle down departure at 5,000'. Rate of descent over 10,000 fpm, yaw rate approaching 360 degrees per sec, perfectly wings level with IAS pegged below 30kts.
HMMM!
Said Jumping Bean required c 5,000' to recover from the vertical and I was already way below recommended bang-out height in a spin (10,000'). I slammed the nozzles aft, which resulted in a 90 degree pitch down and I can well remember seeing the nadir star superimposed on the aircraft symbol with a height of 3,000' in the HUD.
Luckily I had been the Jumping Bean display pilot and followed my mentor's advice on recovery from a LL c*ck-up: - full power, trip the limiters and pull to 8 units ADD.
Bloody marvelous! Levelled off at 1500' and called "knock it off!"
i gave my #2 that one - and a beer!
Mog