Late Saturday, Wisconsin Congressman Tom Tiffany had to swim to safety after the light aircraft he was traveling in lost power and made an emergency landing on Lake Wausau. Both men were forced into the water, with the pilot, Leonard Boltz, joining Tiffany there. They then called 911, before making their way to a shallow spot where they waited for rescue.
Wisconsin’s Republican gubernatorial candidate Tiffany was heading back from the La Crosse County Lincoln Day Dinner when his plane began to malfunction. He recounted the incident in a post on X.
He wrote “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,” and that passage stands as the core of his argument.
The Emergency Landing
Saturday afternoon brought news of an emergency landing when a light aircraft lost power while approaching Wausau Downtown Airport. The pilot set down in Lake Wausau just before 9 p.m., according to a statement from the Marathon County Sheriff’s Office. Once on the water, Tiffany and Boltz exited the plane and called 911, then waited for rescue. Emergency responders arrived in a fire department airboat just after 9 p.m. to bring them to safety.
The two men were admitted to a hospital close by, where they received treatment for minor injuries before being allowed to leave. A statement from Tiffany’s campaign said he had suffered a cut above his right eye that needed stitches.
A single-engine, four-seat Beechcraft Bonanza aircraft was carrying Tiffany when it went down. The sheriff’s office said a no-wake buoy was set close to where the plane still sits in the lake, and boaters are being asked to keep clear of the spot until the plane can be taken away.
The Pilot’s Role
Boltz, the pilot, was not identified by name in the sheriff’s statement, but his role in the emergency landing is central to the story. The congressman’s own account credits the pilot directly, noting that both men exited the aircraft together and swam to safety.
The sheriff’s office confirmed that both men called 911 after exiting the plane. The airboat rescue arrived just after 9 p.m., according to the statement.
The Governor Race Context
Donald Trump has endorsed Tiffany, who is running for governor in Wisconsin on the Republican ticket. The campaign has characterized the incident as a small issue that was settled without any real damage to either man.
The Democratic candidate, David Crowley, responded to the news with a post on X. He wished Tiffany a “quick recovery” and lauded the “heroism of the pilot.”
What Happened in the Water
As the aircraft neared Wausau Downtown Airport, its engine failed. The pilot then brought the plane down on Lake Wausau in an emergency landing. The two men left the craft while it was still sinking and reached a shallow spot by swimming there.
The group stayed put until rescuers arrived by watercraft. According to the sheriff’s account, the rescue party touched land just before 9 p.m. Saturday.
The FAA Investigation
A representative from the Federal Aviation Administration confirmed that the agency will examine the event. The FAA’s statement indicated an investigation is underway.
The National Transportation Safety Board’s spokesperson explained that the agency is holding back until the FAA makes its own judgment about the aircraft. The board is awaiting the FAA’s determination on whether the damage was severe enough to warrant the safety board’s involvement.
The Plane and Its Fate
The Beechcraft Bonanza is still sitting in the lake, and a no-wake buoy has been set close to it. Boaters are being asked to stay away from the area until the plane can be taken out.
No date has been set for taking the plane away, and no word from officials about when the work will start.
A Routine Emergency Landing, Not a Drama
The tale carries the air of a work of fiction, yet the facts are plain: a congressman and a pilot came down upon a lake, the engine having failed, and both men reached land by swimming, sustaining only slight harm.
Tiffany’s account of what happened is plain and straightforward. He called 911, then swam into a shallow spot where he waited for help to arrive. His report shows no sign of fear or excessive emotion.
Both men were taken to a nearby hospital right away. The airboat arrived just after 9 p.m., and they received treatment there. They were discharged shortly afterward.
Key Facts Box
- Incident: Emergency landing in Lake Wausau
- Time: Just before 9 p.m. Saturday
- Plane: Single-engine, four-seat Beechcraft Bonanza
- Injured: Tiffany suffered a cut above his right eye requiring stitches
- Rescue: Fire department airboat
- Hospital: Nearby, both released after treatment
- Investigation: FAA investigating; NTSB waiting on FAA assessment
What makes this account stand out is how plain it is. A plane lost power, a landing followed, two men swam to safety, and the rescue arrived within minutes of the call being placed. Nobody suffered serious injury, and the governor’s race goes on.
The outcome stands as a relief for now, while the FAA investigation sorts out what caused the engine to fail. Tiffany’s post on X conveyed the situation calmly. The sheriff’s statement confirmed the details without embellishment.
A routine emergency landing ended with a swim. It serves as a reminder that even politicians fly in small planes and occasionally land in lakes. The plane will eventually be removed, the investigation will come to an end, and both men will carry on.
The message for now is plain: they arrived, they entered the water, they were rescued.