Congressman Bleeding, Alive After Plane Crash

A campaign flight lost power on approach, and two men swam from a sinking plane to safety in the dark.

Story Snapshot

Rep. Tom Tiffany says his plane lost power near Wausau and ditched in Lake Wausau
Tiffany and the pilot swam to a shallow area and were rescued by boat around 9:05 p.m.
Both were treated for minor injuries; Tiffany needed stitches above his right eye
Federal aviation investigators were notified; the four-seat Beechcraft remained in the lake

Power Loss, Cold Water, Quick Thinking

Rep. Tom Tiffany reported that his small plane lost power as it neared the Wausau Downtown Airport on Saturday night, Sept. 12, 2026. The pilot put the aircraft down in Lake Wausau.

Tiffany said they called 911, exited as the plane began to sink, and swam to a shallow area to wait for help. First responders reached them by boat around 9:05 p.m. and took both men to a nearby hospital for minor injuries.

Wisconsin GOP governor candidate swims from sinking plane after emergency lake landing https://t.co/4dOk7hBksc pic.twitter.com/BVFdOlETLr

— New York Post (@nypost) September 13, 2026

Tiffany’s campaign said he suffered a cut above his right eye that required stitches, and he was released that night. Tiffany publicly thanked the pilot and first responders for their fast action. He also thanked supporters who reached out after the event.

That gratitude tracks with aviation’s unwritten rule: fly the airplane, then help arrives. In this case, the pilot bought time, and the lake bought survivability. Cold, wet, and shaken beats a stall near rooftops every time.

The Aircraft, The Scene, The Response

Authorities described the aircraft as a four-seat Beechcraft Bonanza. Reports said it remained in Lake Wausau as officials planned recovery.

The Marathon County Sheriff’s Office notified both the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board, which will conduct the standard review.

The timeline tells its own story: power loss on approach, water landing, swim to shallows, and rescue within minutes. That sequence often marks sound checklist use and clear cockpit coordination.

Names and ages add clarity to the record. Reports identified the pilot as 73-year-old Leonard Boltz and Tiffany as 68, and placed the rescue at 9:05 p.m. by a Wausau Fire Department airboat. The setting matters.

Lake Wausau sits along the approach corridor to the downtown airport, with reachable shoreline and active weekend response teams. Water landings are unforgiving, but smooth water at night can be survivable if the pilot manages pitch, speed, and attitude, then gets occupants out fast.

What Investigators Will Look For Next

The National Transportation Safety Board follows a standard path in events like this. Investigators gather on-scene facts, document damage, and secure perishable evidence. A preliminary report usually comes first. It lists what happened but does not say why it happened.

The full analysis and cause take longer. That process often spans months in general aviation cases, because engines, fuel, and maintenance require careful review. Saturday night’s “lost power” note is a start, not a finish.

Republican nominee for Wisconsin governor Tom Tiffany suffered minor injuries after a small plane he was on had to make an emergency landing Saturday night.https://t.co/BcceH5d1mL

— SeehaferNews (@SeehaferNews) September 14, 2026

Common-sense expectations apply here. If the engine quit, investigators will track fuel quality, fuel selection, and flow. They will examine plugs, magnetos, and induction. They will study propeller strike marks, which hint at whether the engine was making power at splashdown.

They will review maintenance logs and recent work. They will interview both men about altitude, airspeed, and checklists. That is how facts, not spin, sort truth from rumor in any high-profile case.

Why This Matters Beyond The Headlines

This story crosses two lanes: aviation safety and a campaign for governor. Voters deserve clarity without drama. Based on published reports, a pilot faced a power loss, chose a water landing, and preserved two lives. Tiffany swam, was treated, and went home. That is the news.

Investigators will explain the “why” when their work is done. Until then, praising skill and rescue is not politics; it is basic fairness that matches duty and accountability.