IT WAS A low-IMC day, with a ceiling of 500 feet, a visibility of one mile or so, and a constant rain drumming on the airplane as I taxied out for takeoff. So, it was no surprise to see that I was on the gauges just a few seconds after takeoff. Power set, on heading, climbing to the 3,000-foot altitude assigned in my clearance, and a left turn was coming up. What came next was a shock. For some reason I took my scan away from the panel for a second or two to check some long-forgotten item that must have seemed very important at the time. Maybe it was to look at a chart, or load an upcoming frequency, or make sure that the transponder was on. The reason doesn't really matter. What did matter was that when I went back on the gauges, I instantly learned the airplane was in a steep bank, with its nose aimed well below the horizon. It was a classic nose-low type of unusual attitude.
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