yup yup, simple loss of instrument cross check/SA during hand flying, distraction-induced in this case, and complacency in attempting to troubleshoot instead of respecting how quickly IMC unusual attitudes can mort you. Occam's razor really. And yes, we're all human and capable of falling prey to it, some of us due to inexperience, some of us due to experience-induced complacency.

This is all I do (handfly and flight instruct/evaluate) for a living on the mil side (AETC), and can stand witness to how significantly eroding to hand flying, heavy aircraft flying and automation writ large, can be for otherwise experienced pilots. But instrument cross check atrophy is another one of those "we don't talk about fight club" among high experience crowd, to say nothing of 121 as a community.

And before the herbivore white knight brigade comes @ me, this isn't unique to crew planes, most fighter fatalities in the last 20 years have been due to loss of control in recovery or launch, than weapons employment or enemy action.

Everybody stay safe out there, and keep the lift vector where you intended to.