Top House Republican Swims to Safety After Plane Crashes In Lake

Republican Wisconsin gubernatorial nominee Tom Tiffany survived a terrifying ordeal Saturday night after the small plane carrying him lost power and made an emergency landing in Lake Wausau.

The 68-year-old congressman escaped with minor injuries and was able to return to his family with a remarkable account of survival.

“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 offered his “deepest gratitude to the pilot, the Wausau Fire Department, and all of the first responders who came to our aid so quickly.”

The congressman and pilot Leonard Boltz were the only people aboard the single-engine, four-seat Beechcraft Bonanza when it experienced mechanical trouble while approaching Wausau Downtown Airport shortly before 9 p.m.

According to Tiffany, Boltz warned that the aircraft was going down and instructed him to tighten his seat belt moments before the plane struck the water.

The Republican lawmaker had been returning from the La Crosse County Lincoln Day Dinner when the aircraft suddenly lost power.

After the emergency landing, Tiffany and Boltz initially remained with the plane and called 911. They were forced to abandon the aircraft as it began sinking beneath them.

The two men climbed out and swam approximately 100 to 150 feet before reaching an area shallow enough for them to stand and await rescue.

Emergency personnel reached the pair by airboat shortly after 9 p.m. and transported them to Aspirus Wausau Hospital.

Tiffany suffered a cut above his right eye requiring 12 stitches. Boltz, a retired Air Force pilot, sustained cuts that required four stitches. Both men were released following treatment.

Speaking at a Wausau fire station Sunday, Tiffany became emotional as he reflected on how close the incident came to ending in tragedy.

“The gravity of this is probably just hitting me at this point,” he said, explaining that he and Boltz attempted to remain optimistic even while recognizing the seriousness of their predicament.

“We were making jokes every step of the way last night,” Tiffany said.

The congressman credited Boltz’s skill and composure for safely bringing the powerless aircraft down onto the lake. He also thanked the first responders whose rapid arrival brought both men to safety.

“We’re really fortunate that God was looking after us last night,” Tiffany said.

The damaged aircraft remained partially submerged in Lake Wausau on Sunday, with its tail protruding above the water.

Officials placed a no-wake buoy around the plane and instructed boaters to avoid the location until crews could remove it.

The Federal Aviation Administration announced that it would investigate the emergency landing.

The National Transportation Safety Board said it was waiting for the FAA to assess the extent of the aircraft’s damage before deciding whether to open a separate investigation.

No cause for the apparent mechanical failure has yet been determined.

Despite the harrowing experience, Tiffany said the accident would not disrupt his campaign for governor.

He currently represents Wisconsin’s 7th Congressional District and secured the Republican gubernatorial nomination in August. President Donald Trump endorsed Tiffany during the GOP contest.

The congressman will face Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley, the Democratic nominee, in the November 3 general election.

Crowley set politics aside and expressed relief that Tiffany and Boltz 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 began during what should have been an uneventful campaign journey. Tiffany had attended a Republican Lincoln Day Dinner in Onalaska and was returning toward Wausau when the plane lost power during its final approach.

Thanks to an experienced pilot, fast-acting first responders and what Tiffany described as God’s protection, both men walked away from an emergency that could easily have ended very differently.