Originally Posted by
savall
Also, if it were a situation like Payne Stewarts flight, the windows in that case were nearly opaque and that was daytime. Can't imagine they'd be any easier to see at night.
I was discussing this exact topic earlier today at an FBO. Consensus was that rapid decompression gives the instanteous "fog" / cloud in the plane due to moisture condensation, which could then freeze and deposit on the windows when cold. A very slow leak would equilibrate the moisture with the outside environment dry air and possibly give less condensation, but then the people inside would still be breathing and producing humidified air that could then condense on the window (just as in a car or when taxiing small craft.)
So yes, it may be pretty difficult to see in.