PA32 PLT; FLYING IN INST CONDITIONS IN ZNY AIRSPACE; EXPERIENCES MOMENTARY LOSS OF CTL AFTER BECOMING DISTR.

Narrative

I NORMALLY FLY IFR; USING THE AUTOPLT DURING ENRTE OPS. I WAS NOT USING THE AUTOPLT THIS TRIP BECAUSE IT APPEARED TO BE OUT OF ADJUSTMENT ON ALT HOLD; LATER CONFIRMED. WE WERE FLYING ENRTE AT 5000 FT IN IMC; IN LIGHT RAIN; TEMP HOVERING RIGHT AT 0 DEGS C. MY WIFE WAS NOT FEELING WELL AND I WAS CONCERNED ABOUT PROCEEDING ANOTHER HR TO OUR DEST WITH THE WX AS IT WAS; AND DAYLIGHT STARTING TO DIMINISH. AS I WAS TALKING WITH MY WIFE; I NOTICED THAT WE HAD ENTERED A TURNING DIVE; CREATING THE ALTDEV. RECOVERY COMMENCED UPON REALIZING THE SIT. WE ENDED UP LNDG ABOUT 1 HR SHORT OF THE ORIGINAL DEST. I BELIEVE THAT DISTRS CONTRIBUTED TO THIS. THE OTHER ITEM I SHOULD CITE IS HOW QUICKLY THE DEV TOOK PLACE. REFLECTING BACK ON IT; THAT WAS THE MAJOR SURPRISE. I CAN'T RECALL ANOTHER INCIDENT IN MY 35 YRS OF FLYING WHERE ALT WAS LOST SO QUICKLY. AFTERWARD IT OCCURRED TO ME THAT PERHAPS I WAS EXPERIENCING FREEZING IN THE STATIC SYS WHICH COULD HAVE AFFECTED THE READOUTS. HOWEVER; I HAVE NO EVIDENCE OF THAT AND I HAVEN'T RESEARCHED THE REASONABLENESS OF THAT.