Unfortunately, it's very easy to get disoriented in a rapid pitch up, combined with a basically unplanned transition from visual to instrument flight. Lots of vertical and rotational accelerations effecting the pilot's senses.
One of the EMS companies I worked for in the US lost a helicopter and crew when the pilot entered a climbing IMC turn after entering cloud at low level along the coast at night. Subsequent investigation of the accident led us to believe that the aircraft hit the water in a 260kt inverted dive.
Last edited by inputshaft; 12th Sep 2010 at 20:07.