PLT OF GA SMA DISTR AND ALLOWED ACFT TO GET INTO UNUSUAL ATTITUDE.

Narrative

WHILE CIRCLING A POINT OF INTEREST ON THE GND; A PASSENGER IN THE SEAT DIRECTLY BEHIND ME WAS HAVING DIFFICULTY WITH A CAMERA AND I TURNED BACK TO SEE WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. WITHIN THE FEW SECONDS THAT I DIVERTED MY ATTN; MY ACFT ENTERED AN UNUSUAL ATTITUDE. FORTUNATELY; I EASILY RECOVERED FROM THIS ATTITUDE AND THE ACFT WAS NEVER IN SERIOUS DANGER. EVEN THOUGH MY PASSENGERS THOUGHT NOTHING OF THIS MISHAP; ON MY PART; AND I DIDN'T BREAK ANY AIR REGULATIONS; I BEGAN TO THINK WHAT THE OUTCOME COULD HAVE BEEN IF I WERE ONLY A COUPLE HUNDRED FEET ABOVE THE GND AND WERE JUST A STUDENT PLT. I'M SURE THE OUT COME WOULD HAVE BEEN MUCH DIFFERENT. THIS IS WHY I AM INFORMING NASA OF MY LACK OF PLT VIGILANCE; EVEN THOUGH IT WAS ONLY FOR A FEW SECONDS. IN THAT SHORT PERIOD OF TIME A LOT CAN HAPPEN. I HAVE MADE A PERSONAL PROMISE TO MYSELF THAT I SHALL NEVER AGAIN DIVERT MYSELF FROM THE MAIN TASK AT HAND OF FLYING THE AIRPLANE. ALSO I NOW STRESS TO MY STUDENTS THAT EVEN IF THEY THINK THEY HAVE EVERYTHING IN HAND; THEY SHOULD EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED - BE ON TOP OF THE AIRPLANE YOU FLY IT; DON'T LET IT FLY YOU. I HOPE THAT MY CONFESSION CAN HELP YOU IN IDENTIFYING POSSIBLE SAFETY HAZARDS; AND MAKE FLYING SAFER FOR EVERYONE.