I would say the author had an "illusion of competence" rather than an illusion of control. In this case, at least, experts could have explained to him what he

I would say the author had an "illusion of competence" rather than an illusion of control. In this case, at least, experts could have explained to him what he was doing wrong in objective terms before the crisis; he just didn't have perspective on his level of inexperience.