U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany (R-WI) and a pilot survived an emergency plane landing in Lake Wausau on Saturday night, Sept. 12, 2026. The 68-year-old congressman, who is a candidate for governor of Wisconsin, was returning from the La Crosse County Lincoln Day Dinner when the aircraft lost power.
The incident occurred just before 9:00 p.m. as the single-engine Beechcraft Bonanza approached Wausau Downtown Airport. Tiffany reported that the pilot, Leonard Boltz, told him the plane was going down and instructed him to tighten his seat belt approximately 10 seconds before the four-seat plane struck the water. The two men stood on top of the aircraft until it began to sink, then swam approximately 100 to 150 feet to a shallow area where they could stand.
Marathon County emergency responders rescued the pair using a fire department airboat shortly after 9:00 p.m. Tiffany received 12 stitches for a cut above his right eye, while Boltz, a retired Air Force pilot, also suffered cuts and received four stitches. Tiffany stated on Sunday that the event would not affect his gubernatorial campaign. Democratic gubernatorial candidate David Crowley issued a statement wishing Tiffany a recovery and acknowledging the pilot's actions.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed it will investigate the cause of the power loss. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is currently waiting for the FAA to determine if the damage to the Beechcraft Bonanza was substantial enough to trigger an NTSB investigation. Locally, the Marathon County Sheriff's Office has restricted water traffic by placing a no-wake buoy near the submerged aircraft.
As of Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, the specific timeline for the removal of the aircraft has not been disclosed. The FAA investigation is ongoing, and a recovery operation for the aircraft in Lake Wausau is expected, though a specific date has not been reported. Rep. Tiffany is expected to continue his campaign for governor.