VFR to Inadvertent IMC Escape

[Croqueteer]

Nearly all a/c have at least one gyro, so try this. If caught in IMC and have to climb, Apply full power, fold arms across chest and using rudder only, keep the turn indicator central, or keep the horizon level, or keep the DI on a constant heading. You will not die (not just yet, anyway) To decend through IMC, heaven forbid, trim a/c to about 500ft/min decent and use same technique. Hopefully there will be a gap between cloud base and ground, or this will be the point at which you might die. Before commenting, go and try it!

[bookworm]

and then the technique that you all mentioned was brought up - what struck me was the 'trim.........etc...... and let go', something that is going to be incredibly hard to do in the grip of fear.

Indeed the Stonecipher paper remarks that the hardest aspect for the subject pilots was step 1 (Hands off the control column) even in the simulation.

If caught in IMC and have to climb, Apply full power, fold arms across chest and using rudder only, keep the turn indicator central, or keep the horizon level, or keep the DI on a constant heading.

What you write is correct, but it's worth bearing in mind that you don't always "have to climb". Climbing makes the aircraft less stable in roll -- a gentle descent is better if terrain permits.