I admit that was a bit of a generalization yes. 1 foot per ~10 of forward travel isn’t bad, but you have to factor in what they do when yawing and pitching. Most planes lose alot of altitude when making heading corrections, which is why it’s beat into your head to do as much correction while altitude is on your side(in such an emergency event like this). They’re definitely not gliders.
And the article stated he claimed oil across the windscreen. In a streamlined aircraft like the Lancair that oil likely covered down the complete side of the airframe and obscured much view. I’d suspect one of his only true means of determining aircraft attitude would have been the artificial horizon(hence gauges). Toss in nervousness/panic from the situation and you’ve got one hell of a mess.