📅 Date: September 13, 2026
📰 Source: CNN
📌 Topic: Tom Tiffany, emergency plane landing & Wisconsin governor race
U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany, the Republican nominee for Wisconsin governor, survived a frightening aviation emergency Saturday night after the small plane he was traveling in lost power and was forced to make an emergency landing in Lake Wausau. Tiffany suffered minor injuries and was later released from the hospital.
Tiffany was returning from the La Crosse County Lincoln Day Dinner in Onalaska when the four-seat Beechcraft K35 experienced a mechanical problem while approaching Wausau Downtown Airport. Pilot Leonard Boltz, 73, made the decision to land the aircraft on the lake.
Tiffany told reporters that Boltz warned him to buckle his seat belt because they were going down. The aircraft struck the water roughly 10 seconds later. Tiffany said his head hit the dashboard, but he avoided serious injury.
After the landing, Tiffany and Boltz called 911 and initially remained with the aircraft. As the plane began sinking, the two men exited and swam roughly 100 to 150 feet toward shallower water, where they waited for rescuers. A Wausau Fire Department airboat reached them around 9:05 p.m., about 16 minutes after the initial emergency call.
Tiffany received 12 stitches near his eyebrow and also suffered a hand injury. Boltz sustained scratches and required several stitches. Both were treated at Aspirus Wausau Hospital and released.
During a Sunday news conference, Tiffany became emotional as he reflected on the accident and credited Boltz and first responders for saving their lives. He said he felt extremely fortunate that the aircraft did not flip during the water landing.
The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating the incident. The aircraft remained in Lake Wausau, marked by a buoy, while authorities prepared for recovery operations. The exact cause of the power loss has not yet been determined.
Despite the crash, Tiffany said the incident would not stop his campaign for governor. His Democratic opponent, David Crowley, expressed relief that Tiffany and the pilot survived and praised the pilot’s actions.
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📷 Photo note: The images above are related editorial images for illustration and are not represented as the exact CNN photographs. The CNN report used an image of Tom Tiffany speaking at the Wisconsin Air National Guard facility, credited to Mark Schiefelbein/Reuters. Verify the original image license and credit before publication.
📅 Date: September 13, 2026
📰 Source: CNN
📌 Topic: Tom Tiffany, emergency plane landing & Wisconsin governor race
