The fact remains that the pilot willfully obeyed the CARs in operating the a/c single pilot IFR without an autopilot. Furthermore, the pilot only went as far as to mentally calculate how much fuel would be required, thus violating the funamental CAR that says 'thou shalt not take off unless you have enough fuel to get to your destination, miss, get to your alternate, plus 30 minutes'.
Now if I disobey an equally fundamental highway law and kill someone while I'm speeding, I may also be charged as a criminal... so what's the diff?
Cheers!