U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany and his pilot survived an emergency landing in Lake Wausau on Saturday evening, Sept. 12, 2026, after their single-engine plane lost power on approach to Wausau Downtown Airport. Both men escaped the sinking aircraft, swam to shallow water, and were rescued after a tense ten-minute wait.
Wisconsin Republican gubernatorial nominee Tom Tiffany was returning home from a political dinner in Onalaska when mechanical failure struck the single-engine aircraft carrying him and pilot Leonard “Len” Boltz. The flight was on its final approach to Wausau Downtown Airport just before 9 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 12, according to the Marathon County Sheriff’s Office.
Pilot Leonard Boltz Steers Crippled Aircraft Away From Tragedy
With precious little time to react, Boltz issued a clear warning to his lone passenger as the engine cut out. Len said to me, ‘We are going down. Pull your seatbelt tight,’
Tiffany recounted during a news conference reported by Fox News. Tiffany yanked his belt tight, and about ten seconds later, the aircraft struck the dark waters of Lake Wausau.
“He was savvy enough and quick enough to think about, ‘We’ve got to make sure and pull that landing gear up,’ and it might have saved us.”
Tom Tiffany, U.S. Representative and Wisconsin gubernatorial candidate
Even so, the blow drove Tiffany’s head into the dashboard, leaving him with a gash above his right eye that later required 12 stitches. Boltz, a retired Air Force pilot trainer, sustained minor injuries and received four stitches, as noted by NPR.
Desperate Dispatch Audio and the Race Across Lake Wausau
As the Beechcraft Bonanza began filling with water, the two men checked each other for injuries and slipped out through the passenger-side door. Tiffany searched the cabin for his phone without success, but Boltz retained his device and managed to call 911 while they stood atop the sinking fuselage.
Emergency dispatch recordings captured the confusion among first responders tracking a submerged phone’s final GPS coordinates across a dark lake. Rescuers called for extra ambulances, fire engines, and a mutual aid boat equipped with thermal-imaging gear to sweep Bluegill Park and surrounding landings.
“We’re going to be in search for a down plane.”
Emergency responder, via Marathon County dispatch audio
As the aircraft slipped completely beneath the surface, Tiffany and Boltz began swimming toward shore. They covered roughly 100 to 150 feet before reaching an area where the water was only about five feet deep. Standing on a submerged high spot, they watched the flashing sirens approach.
I said to Len, ‘Let’s just stay right here until help can come,’ because we could see the sirens,
Tiffany recalled.
Rescue, Hospitalization, and the Investigation Ahead
Marathon County Sheriff’s Office Lt. Cory Gladden stated that Tiffany and Boltz spent about 20 minutes in the water before emergency boat crews pulled them to safety according to regional reporting. Rescuers confirmed both men were conscious, alert, and accounted for before transporting them for medical treatment.
Following treatment and stitches, Tiffany was discharged from the hospital and addressed reporters the following day. Visibly emotional, the 68-year-old candidate reflected on the close call.
“We are just really fortunate,” Tiffany said, pausing as he became emotional. “We’re really fortunate that God was looking after us last night.”
Tom Tiffany, U.S. Representative and Wisconsin gubernatorial candidate
Democratic gubernatorial candidate David Crowley posted a message on X wishing Tiffany a quick recovery and praising the pilot’s heroism. Tiffany confirmed that the accident will not disrupt his campaign for governor.
Federal authorities have secured the site, placing a no-wake buoy near the submerged aircraft to keep boaters clear. Both the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the mechanical failure.
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