 August 2nd, Karen arrived at the airport, climbed into the cockpit of a Cessna 172 with the airport manager and flight instructor, John Marcelletta. Karen had assumed that she was just going for a ride, and she was, but she would be piloting the plane as well. For the next hour, while the aircraft was sitting on the ground, John familiarized Karen with the controls and the instruments. She was told what everything was for, what to do in case of an emergency.