Rep. Tom Tiffany survived an emergency water landing in Lake Wausau on Saturday night, Sept. 12, 2026, after the small aircraft carrying him lost power during its final approach to the Wausau Downtown Airport, according to local officials and campaign statements.
Emergency Landing and Rescue in Lake Wausau
The Beechcraft K35 airplane, piloted by Leonard Boltz, experienced a sudden power loss shortly before 9 p.m. on Saturday, according to information released by the Marathon County Sheriff’s Office. According to statements given by Tiffany at a Sunday press conference at the Wausau Fire Department, Boltz attempted to restart the engine unsuccessfully before telling him to buckle up.
“At that point, he just said, ‘Hang on, Tom, and buckle up because we’re going to go down,'” Tiffany told reporters, according to Wisconsin Public Radio (WPR). Tiffany estimated the plane was traveling around 70 miles per hour when it struck the water roughly 10 seconds later.
Tiffany credited Boltz with pulling up the landing gear prior to impact, an action he noted likely prevented the aircraft from cartwheeling. Both men evacuated the sinking plane and stood on top of it for approximately 10 minutes before swimming about 150 feet to a sandbar, according to WPR. Dispatchers received the emergency call at 8:49 p.m., and firefighters from the Wausau Fire Department rescued the two men using an airboat at approximately 9:05 p.m., according to the sheriff’s office.
Injuries and Hospital Treatment
Tiffany and Boltz were transported to Aspirus Wausau Hospital following the rescue. Tiffany sustained a laceration to his eyebrow when his head hit the dashboard, requiring 12 stitches, according to WPR. Both men suffered minor injuries and were released from the hospital late Saturday night, as reported by WPR.
Writing on X (formerly Twitter) early Sunday morning, Tiffany expressed gratitude for their safety: “Thankfully, both the pilot and I sustained only minor injuries.” He also thanked emergency responders for their rapid assistance during the incident.
Campaign Impact and Investigation
Tiffany represents Wisconsin’s 7th Congressional District and secured the Republican nomination for governor in August, setting up a November 3 general election face-off against Democratic nominee and Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley, according to WPR. Crowley posted on X that he was grateful no one was hurt in the “horrifying incident” and praised the pilot’s actions.
Despite the crash, Tiffany stated he intends to return to the campaign trail on Monday. “I signed up for this job. We’re going to finish the job,” Tiffany told reporters on Sunday.
Federal authorities, including the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), are investigating the cause of the power loss. The aircraft remained submerged in Lake Wausau on Sunday, with the sheriff’s office advising boaters to avoid the area until salvage crews remove the wreckage.