Wisconsin Republican gubernatorial nominee Tom Tiffany and pilot Leonard Boltz survived an emergency water landing in Lake Wausau on Saturday night, Sept. 12, 2026, after their small single-engine plane lost power during its approach to Wausau Downtown Airport, leaving both men with minor injuries.
What was supposed to be a routine flight home from a political dinner turned into a nighttime rescue on a Wisconsin lake this weekend. U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany and his pilot managed to walk away from a submerged aircraft with nothing more than cuts, bruises, and a stark reminder of how quickly a normal evening can pivot.
The incident unfolded shortly before 9:00 p.m. on Saturday as the four-seat aircraft approached the Wausau Downtown Airport. Tiffany, who represents Wisconsin’s 7th Congressional District and is the Republican nominee for governor, was returning from the La Crosse County Lincoln Day Dinner in Onalaska.
Emergency Descent and Water Landing on Lake Wausau
According to accounts shared by officials and Tiffany himself, the single-engine Beechcraft Bonanza lost power during its final approach. The pilot, identified by the Marathon County Sheriff’s Office as 73-year-old Leonard Boltz of Pearson, issued a brief warning as the aircraft lost altitude.
“As we went to our final approach, the plane lost power, and Len said to me: ‘We are going down. Pull your seat belt tight.’ That’s exactly what I did. I gave it a yank and pulled it good and tight. And it was probably about 10 seconds later. Not sure the exact timing, but probably about 10 seconds later, we hit the water.”
Tom Tiffany, Republican gubernatorial nominee and U.S. Representative, via NBC News
Boltz guided the aircraft down into the middle of Lake Wausau on the Wisconsin River.
Submersion, Survival, and the 20-Minute Rescue
After the impact, the aircraft settled in the water and began to submerge. Tiffany lost his phone in the crash, but Boltz was able to dial 911. The Marathon County 911 center logged the emergency call at 8:49 p.m. Saturday.
The 911 call had come in from one of the occupants of the plane.
Lt. Cory Gladden, Marathon County Sheriff’s Office
As the plane continued to sink, Tiffany and Boltz climbed off the fuselage and began swimming toward shore. After moving roughly 150 feet, they located a shallow sandbar where they stood and waited for help in the dark September conditions, according to statements and local news reports. Wausau Fire Department responders deployed an airboat and reached the two men at 9:05 p.m.—roughly 20 minutes after the initial distress call.
Hospital Treatment and Investigation Plans
Both survivors were transported by emergency services to Aspirus Wausau Hospital. Tiffany sustained a laceration above his right eye when his head hit the dashboard, requiring stitches, while Boltz was also treated for minor injuries. Both men were released from the hospital late Saturday night.
Political figures from across the spectrum reacted to the news with relief. David Crowley, Tiffany’s Democratic opponent in the upcoming November 3 gubernatorial election, shared a statement on X expressing gratitude that no one was seriously injured and praising the pilot’s quick actions.
The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board have opened an investigation into the mechanical failure. Meanwhile, the sunken aircraft remains in Lake Wausau, where local authorities have placed a no-wake buoy to warn boaters to avoid the marked wreckage zone until recovery operations can begin.
