# NTSB CEN26LA319: Beech K35, N6071E, Wausau, WI, September 13, 2026

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Preliminary report
- Date: September 12, 2026, 20:49 local (Sep 13, 2026, 01:49 UTC)
- Place: Wausau, WI
- Coordinates: 44.934534, -89.641167 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.9345&lon=-89.6412&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern base: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 2 minor
- Status: Investigation ongoing
- Investigation class: Class 3
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 203821
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN26LA319
- NTSB preliminary report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/203821/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA319

## Preliminary report

On September 12, 2026, about 2049 central daylight time, a Beech K35 airplane, N6071E, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Wausau, Wisconsin. The pilot and passenger suffered minor injuries. The flight was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot was conducting a cross-country flight from La Crosse Regional Airport (LSE), La Crosse, Wisconsin, to Wausau Downtown Airport (AUW), Wausau, Wisconsin. The flight departed LSE about 2015. The pilot reported that while flying in the airport traffic pattern for landing at AUW and shortly after he extended the landing gear abeam the runway threshold, he observed a higher-than-normal engine exhaust gas temperature (EGT). According to the pilot, the higher-than-normal engine EGT reminded him to switch fuel tanks. He selected the right fuel tank and advanced the mixture and throttle levers to the full forward position, but the engine did not respond. The pilot stated that he did not turn on the electric fuel boost pump while he attempted to restore engine power. The pilot maneuvered the airplane toward the runway and prepared for a water landing. The airplane impacted water resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage, left wing, left aileron, and engine mount. The pilot and passenger were able to egress from the airplane. The airplane was recovered from the water and secured in a hanger. A postaccident examination revealed that all fuel tank caps were found secure. The right main tank and both auxiliary tanks were full of fuel. The left main tank contained no fuel. The cockpit throttle, mixture, and propeller controls were found in the nearly full forward position. The electric fuel boost pump switch was found turned off. The fuel selector valve was found positioned to the right main fuel tank. The airplane was not equipped with shoulder harnesses, nor was it required to be. According to the pilot, earlier in the day he flew from Langlade County Airport (AIG), Antigo, Wisconsin, to LSE. The airplane departed AIG with full fuel (70 gallons), which was distributed 25 gallons in each main tank and 10 gallons in each auxiliary tank. The pilot did not refuel the airplane at LSE before the flight departed to AUW. The pilot stated that he had the left main fuel tank selected for both flight legs except for when he briefly selected the auxiliary tanks while in cruise flight before switching back to the left tank. In a postaccident interview with a FAA inspector, the pilot’s aviation mechanic stated that he and the pilot discussed the accident, during which the pilot said the loss of engine power was due to his delay in switching fuel tanks and not turning on the electric fuel boost pump.

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Approach-VFR pattern base: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) (defining event); cases with it: [Beech K35, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md?model=1151524), [All aircraft, 733 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md)

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6071E](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6071E), registered now, S/N D-6021, built 1959 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH K35
- Registry model: [Beech K35](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-k35) (registry code 1151524) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental I0-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-i0-470-series) (registry code 17027, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: D-6021
- Year built: 1959
- Airframe hours: 6030
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, September 10, 2026
- Departed: LSA, La Crosse, WI
- Destination: AUW, Wausau, WI
- Airport: AUW, Wausau Downtown Airport, runway 13, 5,200 × 100 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Stall warning system, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Auto-pilot, ADS-B

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 290° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 50 °F
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observed at: KAUW, 1 nm away
- METAR: KAUW 130154Z AUTO 29007KT 10SM CLR 17/10 A2995 RMK AO2 SLP142 T01720100 $,M

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

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