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The Marathon County Sheriff’s Office reported that Wisconsin Congressman Tom Tiffany and his pilot escaped serious harm by swimming to safety after their small plane lost power and ditched in Lake Wausau on Saturday night. The Beechcraft K35 Bonanza began submerging shortly after the emergency landing near Wausau Downtown Airport, prompting the two men to exit the aircraft and call 911 while making their way to shallower waters. Rescuers from the Wausau Fire Department arrived by airboat about 15 minutes later to transport them to Aspirus Wausau Hospital for treatment of minor injuries.
According to Tiffany’s campaign, the congressman received a cut over his right eye that needed stitches but was released from the hospital the same night, as was pilot Leonard Boltz. Tiffany, the Republican nominee for Wisconsin governor, had been returning from the La Crosse County Lincoln Day Dinner when the mechanical issue occurred around 8:49 p.m. local time. The sheriff’s office placed a buoy near the plane and urged boaters to steer clear until it can be salvaged from the lake.
In a social media post, Tiffany wrote that “God was watching over us tonight, and I am incredibly grateful to be here in the hospital with my wife, Chris, by my side.” He added that an experience like this reminds one just how precious life is. The congressman also thanked the pilot, first responders and medical staff for their swift action in the incident.
Tiffany represents Wisconsin’s 7th Congressional District and secured the Republican nomination for governor in August with the endorsement of President Donald Trump. His Democratic opponent, Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley, said he was grateful that the event did not result in serious harm. Speaking through a statement, Crowley praised the heroism of the pilot in avoiding a potential tragedy.
Federal Aviation Administration reports have noted that mechanical failures are a leading factor in general aviation accidents, though improved maintenance standards have helped reduce overall incident rates in recent years. In this case, the pilot’s decision to land on the water rather than risk a more dangerous alternative proved critical. The National Transportation Safety Board often investigates such events to improve future safety protocols across the industry.
The pair were the only two aboard the four-seat single-engine plane, according to the sheriff’s office. No other injuries or damage to property were reported in the event. Authorities continue to examine the cause of the power loss that led to the ditching.
