[QUOTE=Pushkin]
Posting without reading the full thread is getting to be a habit of mine, I think I’ve seen too many of those “FIRST!” posts on AICN.
[/QUOTE]
Well, in your defense, there were eight whole posts to read. 
[QUOTE=Johnny L.A.]
The Cessna 182 in the photo on this page is more or less intact. But notice how it blends in with its surroundings, and imagine trying to find it from an airplane flying at search altitude.
[/QUOTE]
Any reason safety-minded pilots don’t paint their small planes Hazard Orange or Tennis Ball Yellow to make themselves easier to find in situations like this?
[QUOTE=Cervaise]
Any reason safety-minded pilots don’t paint their small planes Hazard Orange or Tennis Ball Yellow to make themselves easier to find in situations like this?
[/QUOTE]
They don’t think it will happen to them and they are style conscious just like the owners of any other vehicle. The Emergency Locator Transmitter is supposed to work and usually does.
[QUOTE=Cervaise]
Any reason safety-minded pilots don’t paint their small planes Hazard Orange or Tennis Ball Yellow to make themselves easier to find in situations like this?
[/QUOTE]
I’m going from memory here. I read an article years and years ago saying that some tests were done painting aircraft bright red, bright yellow, etc. to see which colour was most visible. It turned out that white was the most visible. I don’t remember the details, but it seems to me that white reflects more light than red or yellow or whatever – in the air, against a blue sky. This is where most aircraft need to be seen. So mostly-white is better for flying safety.
Most aircraft don’t crash, but a bright colour would be good in such a case. But since crashes are so rare, it’s not really worth it. But pilots in such places as Alaska will often paint their aircraft a bright solid colour, or else have large bright panels to aid in location against snow, ice, water, trees, etc. But these pilots routinely fly in places where the advantage is noticeable.
Sorry I don’t have an actual cite.