This reflects the poor flying techniques still observed today. The artificial horizon or attitude indicator as we now call it is, some say, the 'master' and always to be believed and followed - NO it must not because as with all instruments it can be in error or perhaps relevant to this story to be mis-set or misinterpreted by the pilot. We should always abide by the mnemonic we were taught on day one: Power + Attitude = Performance; and this remains true whether in cloud or not. As my old mentor emphasised continuously during training; "the engine doesn't know your over water and the aeroplane doesn't know your in cloud." Any instruments to be acted on must be crossed checked using the mnemonic above before any action is undertaken.