Representative Tom Tiffany (R-WI), the Republican gubernatorial nominee for Wisconsin, survived an emergency plane landing in Lake Wausau on Saturday night after the small aircraft he was aboard lost power. Newly released surveillance footage shows the single-engine Beechcraft K35 Bonanza descending rapidly before striking the water. Both Tiffany and the pilot, Leonard Boltz, were rescued by emergency personnel and treated for minor injuries.
"He said we are going down. 'Pull your seat belt tight.' I gave it a yank and pulled it good and tight." Rep. Tom Tiffany (R-WI)
The incident occurred as Tiffany was returning from the La Crosse County Lincoln Day Dinner in Onalaska. The four-seat aircraft experienced mechanical problems while on approach to Wausau Downtown Airport, its scheduled landing destination. Pilot Leonard Boltz, 73, a retired Air Force pilot with previous experience flying with Tiffany, attempted to restart the engine after it lost power, but was unsuccessful.
According to Tiffany's account during a Sunday news conference, Boltz alerted him to the impending crash moments before impact. "He said we are going down," Tiffany recalled. "'Pull your seat belt tight.' I gave it a yank and pulled it good and tight." Approximately 10 seconds later, the plane struck the surface of Lake Wausau. The force of the impact caused Tiffany's head to hit the dashboard, resulting in a cut above his right eye that required 12 stitches. Boltz reportedly received four stitches for his injuries.
Following the impact, both men initially remained with the partially submerged aircraft and called 911. However, as the plane began to sink further, Tiffany and Boltz entered the water. They swam an estimated 100 to 150 feet before reaching an area shallow enough for them to stand. Wausau Fire Department personnel arrived by boat approximately 15 minutes after authorities received the emergency call, which came in shortly before 9 p.m. Both Tiffany and Boltz were transported to Aspirus Wausau Hospital, where they received treatment and were subsequently released.
During his news conference, Tiffany expressed profound gratitude for their survival. "We are just really fortunate," he stated, becoming emotional. "We’re really fortunate that God was looking after us last night." He credited Boltz's extensive experience and quick thinking with preventing a potentially fatal outcome.
The aircraft remained partially submerged in Lake Wausau, with its tail visible above the water, prompting authorities to place a no-wake buoy near the wreckage and advise boaters to avoid the area. Recovery crews utilized airbags on Monday to raise the plane before lifting it onto land and transporting it to a storage facility. The Marathon County Sheriff’s Office and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources provided assistance with the recovery operation.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has initiated an investigation into the cause of the aircraft's power loss. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) may also become involved, pending the assessment of the damage to the plane.
Despite the incident, Tiffany, who represents Wisconsin’s 7th Congressional District, stated that he does not intend to suspend his gubernatorial campaign or permanently cease air travel, though doctors have advised him to avoid flying for several days. He will face Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley, the Democratic nominee, in the November 3 general election. Crowley offered prayers for Tiffany and Boltz, commending the pilot's actions during the emergency. Tiffany also lightened the mood by joking that his cellphone remained at the bottom of Lake Wausau, possibly preventing him from receiving a call from President Donald Trump. "If he has, he probably called my phone," Tiffany quipped. "And it’s being answered by one of the fish down in Lake Wausau."
