It is a very open and honest post - it is a shame that DrSM had to nearly crash before understanding the harsh realities of being a pilot and, that no matter how good you or others think you are, a situation can come and bite you in the arse if you are too confident in your own abilities to realise you are human.
Flying is so much more than being good on the sticks and poles - personality, attitude and self-awareness are key factors that colour the ultimate reason for every successful flight or disastrous one- Decision Making.
I have scared myself most in my career at night without doubt, mainly before the advent of NVG and anyone operating in such a regime should make huge extra allowances for human failings and err on the side of caution, no matter how clever the aircraft you are flying is.