U.S. Representative Tom Tiffany and pilot Leonard Boltz narrowly escaped death Saturday night when their single-engine aircraft lost power over Lake Wausau, Wisconsin. The Beechcraft Bonanza went down just before 9 p.m. as the pair attempted to reach the Wausau Downtown Airport.
Twelve stitches and a dashboard impact
The Beechcraft Bonanza lost power during its final approach to the Wausau Downtown Airport on Saturday night. According to the report, the single-engine, four-seat aircraft plunged into Lake Wausau just before 9 p.m. The pilot, Leonard Boltz, reportedly instructed Tiffany to pull his seat belt tight just seconds before the impact. This brief warning was followed only 10 seconds later by the plane hitting the water.
The collision was violent enough to drive Tiffany’s head into the dashboard, resulting in a gash above his right eye that required 12 stitches. Boltz, a retired Air Force pilot, also sustained injuries that necessitated four stitches. While the impact was severe, both men managed to escape the cabin through the passenger-side door as the aircraft began to fill with water.
A 150-foot swim to safety in Lake Wausau
After escaping the sinking aircraft, the two men spent roughly 10 minutes perched atop the plane as it submerged.. As the Beechcraft Bonanza slipped beneath the surface, Tiffany and Boltz swam approximately 100 to 150 feet toward the shore. They eventually reached a shallow area where the water was only five feet deep, where they waited for emergency responders to arrive.
The rescue operation involved a fire department airboat and was heavily coordinated by the Marathon County Sheriff's Office. Dramatic dispatch audio captured crews requesting "SAFER mutual aid to Bluegill Park" and calling for additional ambulances and engines. The search was aided by thermal-imaging equipment and a boat provided by a local landowner,allowing responders to locate the men after they had moved away from the sinking wreckage.
Political rivals unite after the La Crosse County flight
The incident occurred while Rep. Tom Tiffany was traveling back from the La Crosse County Lincoln Day Dinner. This high-stakes flight took place amidst his campaign for the Wisconsin governorship, a role that places him in direct competition with Democratic candidate David Crowley. The crash occurred during a period of intense political campaigning in the state.
In a rare moment of political unity,Crowley used X to wish Tiffany a quick recovery and praised the heroism of Boltz, as reported by the source. While Tiffany noted that he and Boltz tried to keep things light with jokes during the ordeal, the gravity of the situation became clear as the aircraft disappeared underwater. The incident has momentarily shifted the focus from the gubernatorial race to the survival of one of its key candidates.
What the FAA and NTSB will find in the wreckage
Investigators from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) are currently tasked with determining why the engine failed during the approach. While the Marathon County Sheriff's Office utilized thermal imaging and GPS data from a phone to locate the men, the exact cause of the power loss remains unverified. the investigation will likely focus on wheter the single-engine Beechcraft suffered a mechanical failure or a fuel issue.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has not yet officially joined the probe. According to a spokesperson for the NTSB, the agency is waiting to see if the FAA deems the aircraft damage substantial enoough to warrant their direct involvement.. Until the plane is removed from Lake Wausau, a no-wake buoy remains in place to protect the site and the ongoing investigation.
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