The Tom Tiffany plane incident in Wisconsin ended with an emergency water landing on Lake Wausau after the aircraft lost power while approaching Wausau Downtown Airport. Tiffany and the pilot escaped the aircraft, swam to shallow water and were rescued by emergency responders late Saturday night.
The incident occurred on September 12, 2026, as Tiffany was returning from the La Crosse County Lincoln Day Dinner in Onalaska. The Republican candidate for Wisconsin governor was traveling in a small four-seat Bonanza when the aircraft experienced the power loss.
Tiffany and pilot Leonard E. Boltz were the only two people aboard. Both survived the emergency and were taken to Aspirus Wausau Hospital. They were treated for minor injuries and released.
Tiffany suffered a cut above his right eye that required stitches. No life-threatening injuries have been reported.
The Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board have been notified. The cause of the power loss has not yet been determined.
What Happened to the Tom Tiffany Plane
The aircraft was approaching Wausau Downtown Airport when it lost power.
The pilot then made an emergency landing on Lake Wausau. The plane entered the water instead of reaching the airport runway.
After the landing, Tiffany and Boltz contacted 911. The aircraft began to submerge, forcing both men to leave the plane.
They moved through the water toward a shallow area. They waited there until emergency responders arrived by boat.
The Marathon County Sheriff’s Office received the emergency call at approximately 8:49 p.m. Saturday.
Responders reached the men shortly afterward. A Wausau Fire Department airboat was used to bring them safely from the water.
Both men remained alert and conscious during the rescue.
The aircraft remained in the lake after the occupants were removed.
Who Was on the Aircraft
Tiffany was the only passenger aboard the aircraft.
The pilot was identified as Leonard E. Boltz, a 73-year-old man from Pearson, Wisconsin.
The aircraft was a four-seat Beechcraft K35 Bonanza.
There were no other passengers or crew members involved in the incident.
Tiffany later thanked Boltz for his actions during the emergency. The pilot’s response was central to the outcome because the aircraft was already approaching the airport when it lost power.
Instead of attempting to continue toward the runway without power, the pilot made an emergency water landing.
The two men were then able to escape before the aircraft submerged.
Where the Emergency Landing Happened
The emergency landing occurred on Lake Wausau in central Wisconsin.
The lake is located close to Wausau Downtown Airport, which was the aircraft’s intended destination.
The proximity of the lake to the airport area allowed local emergency crews to respond quickly after the 911 call.
The aircraft was later marked with a no-wake buoy. Authorities asked boaters to stay away from the location while officials worked on the scene.
The submerged aircraft also became part of the continuing investigation and recovery effort.
Authorities must account for the plane’s position in the lake while investigators examine what happened during the flight.
Tom Tiffany’s Injuries and Hospital Treatment
Tiffany sustained a laceration above his right eye.
His campaign confirmed that the injury required stitches. He was taken to Aspirus Wausau Hospital after the rescue.
The pilot also received medical treatment.
Both men were treated for minor injuries and released from the hospital.
Tiffany later expressed gratitude for the medical care he received.
His condition was not considered life-threatening, and there has been no confirmed report of a serious injury resulting from the landing.
The latest available information indicates that Tiffany was able to continue communicating publicly after the incident.
His campaign also said Tiffany and his family were grateful that the injuries were not more serious.
Tiffany Describes the Emergency
Tiffany described the incident publicly after reaching safety.
He said the aircraft lost power while approaching Wausau Downtown Airport. He explained that the pilot then made an emergency water landing on Lake Wausau.
After the landing, the two men called 911.
As the aircraft began to submerge, they exited the plane and swam toward shallow water.
They remained there until emergency responders reached them by boat.
Tiffany thanked the pilot, the Wausau Fire Department and other first responders for their rapid response.
He also reflected on the experience after receiving medical treatment.
The statement provided the clearest first-person account of the sequence from the aircraft’s power loss through the rescue.
Emergency Crews Responded Quickly
The rescue operation involved several emergency agencies.
The Wausau Fire Department responded to the incident and used an airboat during the rescue.
The Marathon County Sheriff’s Office also handled the initial emergency response.
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and Wisconsin State Patrol were among the agencies that responded to the scene.
Emergency dispatch information indicated that the two occupants were rescued and remained alert and conscious.
Their quick removal from the water reduced the amount of time they spent near the sinking aircraft.
Once the men were brought to safety, they were transported for medical evaluation.
The emergency response then shifted toward securing the area and dealing with the submerged aircraft.
The Aircraft Began to Submerge
The plane did not remain on the surface after landing.
Tiffany said the aircraft began to submerge after the emergency landing.
That development prompted both occupants to get out.
The two men then moved toward shallow water and waited for the rescue crews.
The sequence is significant because the emergency continued even after the aircraft reached the lake.
A water landing does not automatically end the danger for people aboard a small aircraft. In this case, the sinking plane required Tiffany and the pilot to leave the aircraft quickly.
Emergency personnel subsequently reached them by boat.
The plane remained underwater after the rescue.
What Is Known About the Cause
The aircraft lost power while approaching Wausau Downtown Airport.
That fact has been confirmed by Tiffany and local authorities.
However, officials have not announced what caused the power loss.
There is currently no confirmed finding identifying a particular engine component, fuel issue, electrical failure or maintenance problem.
The investigation remains active.
The FAA and NTSB have been notified and will examine the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Until investigators release additional findings, the precise cause should not be stated as fact.
The available information establishes the sequence of events but does not establish why the aircraft lost power.
That distinction is important as investigators begin examining the aircraft and other evidence.
Federal Aviation Investigation Underway
The FAA and NTSB are involved in the investigation.
Federal aviation investigators can examine the aircraft, available records and other evidence connected with the flight.
The aircraft’s condition after the water landing may also provide important evidence.
Officials will need to determine what happened before the aircraft entered Lake Wausau and what caused the loss of power.
The investigation is separate from the emergency rescue operation.
First responders focused on saving the two occupants and securing the scene. Aviation investigators will focus on determining the circumstances and cause of the incident.
No final investigative conclusion has been announced as of September 13, 2026.
What Happened to the Plane After the Rescue
The aircraft remained submerged in Lake Wausau after Tiffany and Boltz were rescued.
Authorities placed a no-wake buoy near the location.
Boaters were asked to avoid the area while officials handled the situation.
The restriction helps protect the investigation area and reduces the risk of boat traffic interfering with the aircraft or recovery operation.
Removing a submerged aircraft also requires coordination with authorities.
The plane itself may provide important evidence for investigators. Its condition, mechanical systems and other components can help establish what happened before the emergency landing.
For that reason, the aircraft’s recovery is an important part of the continuing response.
Tiffany Was Returning From a Wisconsin Event
The flight occurred after Tiffany attended the La Crosse County Lincoln Day Dinner in Onalaska.
He was returning home when the aircraft lost power near Wausau.
The event was part of Tiffany’s activities during his campaign for Wisconsin governor.
The emergency therefore happened while Tiffany was traveling between campaign-related activities and home.
His campaign later confirmed that he had been released from the hospital.
The incident did not result in a reported change to his status as the Republican candidate for governor.
Tom Tiffany’s Political Status After the Incident
Tiffany is the Republican nominee for governor of Wisconsin.
He represents Wisconsin’s 7th Congressional District in the U.S. House.
He won the Republican nomination in the August primary and is scheduled to face Democratic nominee David Crowley in the November 3 general election.
The plane emergency occurred during the general election campaign.
Crowley responded publicly after learning about the incident. He expressed relief that Tiffany and the pilot were not seriously injured and praised the pilot’s actions.
Tiffany’s campaign has continued to provide updates about his condition.
The immediate information following the incident has centered on his recovery and the investigation into the aircraft.
Tiffany Thanks First Responders
After the rescue, Tiffany publicly thanked the people involved in bringing him and the pilot to safety.
His comments specifically recognized the pilot and the Wausau Fire Department.
He also expressed appreciation for other first responders who reached the two men on Lake Wausau.
The emergency crews transported both men to Aspirus Wausau Hospital.
Tiffany described the medical care he received positively.
He also expressed gratitude that he was able to be with his wife, Chris, following the incident.
His comments came after an experience that required him to leave a sinking aircraft and swim to shallow water.
Latest Status as of September 13, 2026
The latest confirmed information shows that Tiffany and Boltz survived the emergency landing.
Both sustained minor injuries and received hospital treatment.
Tiffany required stitches for the cut above his right eye.
Both men were released from the hospital.
The aircraft remains connected to the recovery and investigation effort at Lake Wausau.
Authorities have asked boaters to avoid the marked area around the submerged plane.
The FAA and NTSB are investigating.
Most importantly, officials have not yet released a final explanation for the aircraft’s loss of power.
That means any claim identifying a specific mechanical failure would be premature.
The confirmed account remains straightforward: the plane lost power during its approach to Wausau Downtown Airport, the pilot made an emergency water landing, the two occupants escaped as the aircraft began to sink, and emergency crews rescued them from the water.
What Comes Next
The next major development will likely come from the ongoing aviation investigation and aircraft recovery.
Investigators will work to establish the circumstances that led to the loss of power.
The condition of the aircraft can become an important part of that process.
Authorities also need to ensure the lake area remains safe while the plane is recovered.
For Tiffany, the immediate focus is recovery from his minor injuries.
His campaign has indicated that he and his family are thankful that the incident did not result in more serious harm.
The political campaign will continue as Wisconsin moves toward the November election, but the aviation investigation remains a separate matter.
There is currently no confirmed evidence suggesting anything beyond the reported aircraft power loss and subsequent emergency landing.
Why the Latest Details Matter
The incident attracted national attention because Tiffany is both a sitting member of Congress and the Republican nominee for governor of Wisconsin.
However, the most important confirmed development remains the safety of the two people aboard.
Both survived.
Both received medical treatment.
Both were released.
The aircraft’s emergency landing also demonstrates how quickly circumstances can change during a small-aircraft flight. The plane was approaching its destination when it lost power, forcing the pilot to make a rapid decision.
The water landing allowed the two occupants to leave the aircraft before it submerged.
Emergency responders then brought them safely from the lake.
The investigation will now determine why the aircraft lost power.
Until those findings are released, the facts surrounding the emergency should remain limited to what authorities, Tiffany and his campaign have confirmed.
The latest update on September 13, 2026, is that Tiffany is recovering from minor injuries, the pilot was also released after treatment, and federal authorities are investigating the incident.
The story is still developing, so share your thoughts below and stay informed as confirmed updates emerge.