Darlene Zagar was in her element Thursday. Once again she was jetting off on a business trip. As marketing manager for Mathews Conveyor Division, the Danville, Ky., woman spent two to three weeks a month on the road and in the air.

''She was bragging that she had a golden card because of all the frequent-flier miles she had racked up,'' said her younger brother, Andrew Zagar, who said his family has done a lot of ''holding, hugging and crying'' in the days since the crash.

Family and friends remembered Ms. Zagar as a woman who rarely frowned. Unless, of course, a customer was dissatisfied. Then she was on the ''warpath,'' as one co-worker put it. But she earned a reputation for remedying problems quickly.

''I know as time moves on, it will go through the back of my mind, I won't hear it - 'Darlene just took care of that,' '' said David J. Martin, company president.

She had spent 22 years at the company that designs, manufactures and installs conveyor systems and parts.

The family was planning a birthday celebration this weekend for Ms. Zagar, who would have turned 42 today, said brother-in-law Ken Price.

Ms. Zagar had planned to celebrate her birthday with best friend and co-worker Cheryl Rodgers.

Just before 11 a.m. Thursday, Ms. Zagar stopped by Ms. Rodgers' office to bid her farewell. She was on her way to Detroit for a one-day training seminar.

Ms. Rodgers reminded her friend of their plans for Saturday. They would dine out and indulge in one of their favorite pastimes: shopping. With that, they exchanged goodbyes, and Ms. Zagar was off to the airport.

''That was the last time I saw her,'' Ms. Rodgers said. ''She had a smile on her face.''