U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany survived an emergency landing in Lake Wausau, Wisconsin, Saturday night after his single-engine Beechcraft Bonanza lost power as it approached Wausau Downtown Airport. The Republican congressman and gubernatorial candidate recounted the incident to reporters Sunday, wiping away tears as he spoke.
"We're really fortunate that God was looking after us last night," Tiffany said.
Pilot Leonard Boltz, a retired Air Force pilot, warned Tiffany as the plane descended. "We are going down," Boltz said, instructing Tiffany to pull his seat belt tight. About 10 seconds later, the four-seat aircraft hit the water.
Tiffany and Boltz remained on top of the plane until it began sinking, then swam approximately 100 to 150 feet to shallow water. Boltz called 911 after they exited. The Marathon County Sheriff's Office said the emergency landing occurred just before 9 p.m. Fire department personnel rescued both men by airboat shortly after.
Tiffany suffered a cut above his right eye requiring 12 stitches. Boltz received four stitches for cuts sustained in the crash.
The congressman had been returning from the La Crosse County Lincoln Day Dinner when the plane lost power. He said Sunday that the gravity of the incident was setting in, though he had made jokes during the ordeal to keep the mood light.
Tiffany is running for Wisconsin governor in the Nov. 3 election with the endorsement of President Donald Trump. He said the crash will not affect his campaign.
David Crowley, the Democratic gubernatorial candidate, posted on X to wish Tiffany a quick recovery and praised the pilot's heroism.
The submerged plane remained in the lake Sunday with a no-wake buoy marking its location. The Federal Aviation Administration said it would investigate the crash.
