Wisconsin Republican gubernatorial candidate Tom Tiffany and his pilot, Leonard Boltz, survived a harrowing emergency landing Saturday night when their Beechcraft Bonanza plane lost power and crashed into Lake Wausau. Both men were rescued after the aircraft sank.
Dispatch audio captured the frantic efforts of first responders who converged on the lake, unsure of the exact location of the downed plane and its occupants. Crews utilized thermal-imaging equipment and the last known GPS coordinates from Boltz’s phone to narrow their search in the darkness. A witness reported seeing the aircraft go down, but provided only a general search area. Responders also received assistance from a local landowner who provided a boat.
Tiffany recounted that Boltz announced the plane was going down as they approached Wausau Downtown Airport. "We are going down. Pull your seatbelt tight," Boltz told Tiffany, who said he tightened his harness. The plane hit the water approximately 10 seconds later. Tiffany sustained a gash above his right eye requiring 12 stitches, and Boltz received four stitches for an injury.
After escaping the sinking aircraft through the passenger-side door, Tiffany and Boltz climbed onto the plane's exterior. Boltz then called 911 using his cell phone. They waited for about 10 minutes before beginning to swim toward the shore as emergency lights surrounded the lake. They swam about 100 to 150 feet before reaching a shallower area. "I said to Len, ‘Let’s just stay right here until help can come,’ because we could see the sirens," Tiffany said.
Rescuers located both men, who were reported to be alert and conscious. They were taken to Aspirus Wausau Hospital and released after treatment. Tiffany stated that a CT scan showed no concussion, though he was advised to monitor for symptoms and avoid flying for several days.
Tiffany attributed the survival of the crash to Boltz’s piloting skills. He noted that Boltz raised the plane's landing gear before impact, preventing the aircraft from potentially flipping. Tiffany estimated the plane was traveling between 70 and 80 mph upon hitting the water, comparing the impact to a "fast-moving car crash." Wausau Mayor Doug Diny, a former military pilot, also praised Boltz for successfully executing the water landing at night.
The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating the cause of the engine power loss. The single-engine Beechcraft Bonanza remained submerged in the lake as of Sunday.
Despite canceling a trip to Washington D.C., Tiffany indicated plans to return to the campaign trail Monday. He is running against Democratic Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley in the November gubernatorial election.
House Speaker Mike Johnson expressed gratitude for Tiffany's safety, stating on social media, "Grateful to God no one was hurt in this accident and my good friend @TomTiffanyWI is safe and back on the trail!" Crowley also shared his relief that both men survived and commended Boltz's actions.