"Michael" wrote in message om...

I doubt that my situation is unique - I know lots of people who have
no problem trusting the instruments.

Actually, what kills a lot of people in my opinion is not "not trusting
instruments" but rather, not realizing it's time to get on the gauges.
I never had any problem flying under the hood in my training.
I remember my first wander into IMC (an instructor was in the right
seat). Just a gentle drift off into the clouds. I was staring off into
the nothingness for several seconds until the instructor prompted me
with something with "don't lose it on me." And then I hunkered down
on the gauges and got to business. I've seen other pilots do the
same thing. I'm fairly convinced this is what got JFKJr. Had he
thought, I'm out over water, I'd better get on the dials, he probably
would be OK, but he was staring out at a non-existent (or false)
horizon until it was too late.