Bonanza 35
Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Private
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 15; Flight Crew Total 775; Flight Crew Type 200
Confusion; Situational Awareness; Training / Qualification
Deviation - Track / Heading All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Ground Event / Encounter Loss Of Aircraft Control; Inflight Event / Encounter Weather / Turbulence
Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance; Air Traffic Control Provided Assistance; Flight Crew Became Reoriented; Flight Crew Regained Aircraft Control
Weather; Human Factors; Procedure
ATC issued vectors; fly-heading 320. I lost situational awareness when entering a cloud; momentarily lost directional control and inadvertently turned westbound. I was correcting as ATC queried my direction; headed back to 320 heading. ATC issued modification to clearance: vectors to an intersection; [then] direct. I lost situational awareness and proceeded direct to [the intersection] until ATC queried my direction. I then corrected and flew [assigned] vectors.Cause: When I entered the cloud; I failed to go to the artificial horizon immediately and quickly began unintended turn. I became alarmed and further distracted; so I missed the instruction to follow vectors to [the intersection] and proceeded direct instead. This was poor instrument technique on my part followed by failure to get my emotions under control quickly in order to continue navigating correctly.
A Beach Bonanza pilot reported that he lost situational awareness when he entered a cloud.