Basically. Lonewolf, having been through both 'schools' like you, the answer is essentially 'no'. I recall (A USAF film, I think, from the 60's?) called 'Get on the Gauges' which was pushed hard in the British military. I suspect that unless the trainers in civilian aviation have had the same sort of strict indoctrination, it is not properly 'taught'/stressed to the same extent - but then of course, the 'manoeuvres' and potential exposure to it are far less.
In any case, like others, I suspect this has nothing to do with this crash.
YOP - what do you mean 'no aids'? Were both the NDB and VOR/DME off the air?