Offcourse the somatogravic effect was a factor in the incident... Setting GA-power, having a high pitchup attitude, being confused, retracting the gear... If you don't know where you are or what you are doing, you will act primitive, which is as a pilot to push on the stick if your pants make you feel that the nose is going up.
I would not underestimate the effects of such illusions, even for the more experienced professional pilot.