U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany’s Plane Emergency

U.S. Representative Tom Tiffany, a Republican from Wisconsin and a candidate for governor, faced a harrowing experience Saturday night. His Bonanza airplane, which accommodates four passengers, lost power and had to make an emergency landing in a lake after sundown.

On Saturday evening, Tiffany shared his account on X, detailing that the incident occurred while he was returning from the La Crosse County Lincoln Day Dinner. According to him, as they approached the Wausau Downtown Airport, the plane unexpectedly lost power.

“The pilot made an emergency water landing in Lake Wausau,” Tiffany reported, a statement corroborated by the local sheriff’s office.

Lake Wausau is located roughly two miles south of downtown Wausau, which has a population of about 40,000 and is situated around 90 miles west of Green Bay. This lake is supplied by the Wisconsin River that flows through the area.

The emergency landing happened before 9 p.m., just an hour after sunset, based on an emergency call that came in at 8:49 p.m., as noted by the Marathon County Sheriff’s Office.

According to Tiffany, the plane didn’t remain on the surface for long. “After landing, we called 911. As the plane began to submerge, we exited and swam to a safer area, where we waited for emergency personnel to reach us by boat,” he recounted.

There were only two people on board. Records from the sheriff’s office indicated that first responders arrived at the scene, assisting Tiffany and his 73-year-old pilot, Leonard Boltz, by 9:05 p.m., just 16 minutes after their call.

The sheriff’s office identified the aircraft as a Beechcraft Bonanza K35, a single-engine V-tail model produced in 1959.

Tiffany expressed gratitude for the pilot’s skills and the swift action of rescuers. He stated, “I want to thank the pilot, the Wausau Fire Department, and all the first responders for their rapid assistance. They ensured our safety and transported us to Aspirus Wausau Hospital, where we received excellent care. We are fortunate to have only sustained minor injuries.”

Tiffany, who is part of the House Freedom Caucus, has received his party’s nomination for governor, with notable backing from former President Donald Trump.

David Crowley, Tiffany’s Democratic opponent in the gubernatorial race, expressed relief that no one was seriously injured in the incident, calling it “a horrifying episode that could have turned tragic but for the pilot’s heroism.” He wished both Tiffany and the pilot a swift recovery and hoped they could find comfort with their families.

In his post, Tiffany mentioned a higher power looking out for them. “God was watching over us tonight, and I’m very grateful to be here in the hospital with my wife, Chris,” he wrote. “Experiences like this highlight how precious life truly is.”