The Republican gubernatorial nominee for Wisconsin had a harrowing tale of survival to tell his family on Sunday.
U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany escaped with minor injuries after the small plane carrying him lost power and made an emergency landing in Lake Wausau late Saturday.
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“While returning home from the La Crosse County Lincoln Day Dinner, the plane I was traveling in lost power as we approached the Wausau Downtown Airport. The pilot made an emergency water landing in Lake Wausau,” Tiffany said in the statement.
“After landing, we called 911. As the plane began to submerge, we exited the aircraft and swam to a shallow area, where we waited until emergency responders reached us by boat,” he added.
Tiffany expressed his “deepest gratitude to the pilot, the Wausau Fire Department, and all of the first responders who came to our aid so quickly.”
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Tiffany and pilot Leonard Boltz were the only two people aboard the single-engine, four-seat Beechcraft Bonanza when it experienced trouble while approaching Wausau Downtown Airport shortly before 9 p.m.
The congressman said Boltz warned him that the plane was going down and told him to tighten his seat belt moments before the aircraft hit the water.
Tiffany, 68, was returning from the La Crosse County Lincoln Day Dinner when the plane lost power.
After the emergency landing, Tiffany and Boltz initially remained with the aircraft and called 911. As the plane began sinking, they climbed out and swam roughly 100 to 150 feet until they reached water shallow enough to stand in.
Emergency responders reached them by airboat shortly after 9 p.m. and transported both men to Aspirus Wausau Hospital.
Tiffany suffered a cut above his right eye that required 12 stitches. Boltz, a retired Air Force pilot, also suffered cuts and received four stitches. Both were released after treatment.
Tiffany became emotional Sunday while recounting the incident during a news conference at a Wausau fire station.
“The gravity of this is probably just hitting me at this point,” he said, adding that he and Boltz tried to keep their spirits up despite understanding the seriousness of the situation.
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“We were making jokes every step of the way last night,” Tiffany said.
CBS 58 has obtained new pictures of the plane Tom Tiffany was on when it made an emergency landing in Lake Wausau last night.
Emergency responders got both Tiffany and the pilot to a nearby hospital, where they were treated for minor injuries. Tiffany was released Sun. morning. pic.twitter.com/Yaq2TF99Uh
— CBS 58 News (@CBS58) September 13, 2026
He also credited Boltz with safely getting the aircraft onto the water and thanked the emergency crews who responded.
“We’re really fortunate that God was looking after us last night,” Tiffany said.
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The aircraft remained partially submerged in Lake Wausau on Sunday, with its tail visible above the water.
Authorities placed a no-wake buoy around the plane and asked boaters to stay away from the area until it could be removed.
The Federal Aviation Administration said it would investigate the emergency landing.
The National Transportation Safety Board said it was waiting for the FAA to determine the extent of the aircraft’s damage before deciding whether it would launch its own investigation.
Tiffany said the accident would not affect his campaign for governor.
He currently represents Wisconsin’s 7th Congressional District and won the Republican gubernatorial nomination in August. President Donald Trump endorsed Tiffany during the GOP contest.
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Tiffany is set to face Democratic nominee David Crowley, the Milwaukee County executive, in the Nov. 3 general election.
Crowley responded to news of the accident by expressing relief that Tiffany and the pilot survived.
“I’m grateful to God that Congressman Tiffany and no one else was hurt in this horrifying incident, which could have been a tragedy if not for the heroism of the pilot,” Crowley said.
The emergency landing interrupted what had otherwise been a routine campaign trip for Tiffany.
He had attended the Republican Lincoln Day Dinner in Onalaska and was flying back toward Wausau when the aircraft lost power during its approach.
The cause of the mechanical failure has not yet been determined.
This article may contain commentary which reflects the author’s opinion.
