On Saturday night, Tom Tiffany, the Wisconsin Republican running for governor, and his pilot walked away from a crash in Lake Wausau after their aircraft suffered a total power failure. The small plane went down while making its final approach to the Wausau Downtown Airport following a campaign stop. Dispatch recordings reveal the urgent scramble as rescue teams hunted for the two men submerged beneath the surface. Tiffany posted on X that the aviator executed an emergency landing directly into the water, confirming that both individuals escaped with only minor wounds.
Leonard “Len” Boltz, the pilot, had mere moments to respond once the engine died. “Len said to me, ‘We are going down. Pull your seatbelt tight,'” Tiffany recalled. He secured his belt just ten seconds before impact with the water. The collision resulted in a cut above Tiffany’s eye requiring 12 stitches, while Boltz needed four stitches for his own injuries. Fox News detailed their escape from the flooding cockpit.
While returning home from the La Crosse County Lincoln Day Dinner tonight, the plane I was traveling in lost power as we approached the Wausau Downtown Airport. The pilot made an emergency water landing in Lake Wausau.
After landing, we called 911. As the plane began to…
— Tom Tiffany (@TomTiffanyWI) September 13, 2026
Before the passenger-side door could be opened against the rushing water, they checked on one another. They climbed onto the slowly submerging fuselage and waited for emergency lights to signal help. As the plane sank deeper, they swam approximately 100 to 150 feet toward the airport. They waited in shallow water until first responders arrived by boat. New York Post — Politics reported that they were subsequently transported to Aspirus Wausau Hospital.
Tiffany voiced profound appreciation for the crew and local firefighters who rescued them. “I want to express my deepest gratitude to the pilot, the Wausau Fire Department, and all of the first responders who came to our aid so quickly,” Tiffany said. His wife, Chris, remained by his side at the hospital throughout his recovery. He described the incident as a stark reminder of life’s fragility. .
This event unfolded while Tiffany leads a tight race for the governor’s mansion. He is facing Democratic Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley in a highly competitive contest. The candidate had just concluded speaking at the La Crosse County Lincoln Day Dinner prior to the crash. He represents Wisconsin’s 7th Congressional District, encompassing rural regions in the north and center of the state. The cause of the power loss remains unknown but is under investigation.
Search operations for the downed aircraft commenced immediately following the crash. One responder warned over the radio, “We’re going to be in search for a down plane”. Thanks to swift action, the two men were pulled from the water safely. Tiffany stated, “They got us safely off the water and transported us to Aspirus Wausau Hospital, where we received excellent care”. Both men are expected to make a full recovery from their minor injuries. The investigation into the mechanical failure will determine what went wrong.
