Full Breakdown
Wisconsin GOP Gubernatorial Candidate Survives Emergency Water Landing
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event
On the night of September 12, 2026, a four-seat Beechcraft K35 Bonanza carrying U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany, the Republican nominee for Wisconsin governor, and pilot Leonard Boltz lost engine power while on final approach to Wausau Downtown Airport. The aircraft made an emergency water landing in Lake Wausau. Both occupants exited the sinking plane, swam to a shallow sandbar, and waited until responders arrived by boat. They were taken to Aspirus Wausau Hospital for treatment of minor injuries, including stitches above Tiffany’s right eye.
Timeline
- September 12, 2026 (Saturday night) – Plane loses power and lands on Lake Wausau just before 9 p.m. (Marathon County Sheriff’s Office).
- September 13, 2026 (early Sunday) – Tiffany posts a statement on X describing the incident and thanking first responders.
- September 13, 2026 – FAA and NTSB announce investigations into the loss of power.
- November 3, 2026 – Tiffany is scheduled to face Democratic nominee David Crowley in the Wisconsin gubernatorial election.
Data & Statistics
- Aircraft: Beechcraft K35 Bonanza, single-engine, four-seat.
- Occupants: 2 (Tiffany, 68, and pilot Leonard Boltz, 73).
- Injuries: Minor; Tiffany received 12 stitches above his right eye; Boltz received four stitches.
- Rescue timeline: About 15 minutes from water impact to rescue by a Wausau Fire Department airboat.
- Investigation: FAA primary; NTSB pending determination of involvement.
Why It Matters
The incident occurred during the final stretch of the 2026 Wisconsin gubernatorial campaign. Tiffany emphasized that the crash will not deter his campaign efforts, signaling continuity in the race. The emergency landing has also drawn attention to safety protocols for small-aircraft travel in the state.
Official Statements & Responses
- Tom Tiffany thanked the pilot, the Wausau Fire Department, and other responders, noting his belief that “God was watching over us.” He confirmed both he and the pilot sustained only minor injuries and that he was released from the hospital the same night.
- Marathon County Sheriff’s Office identified the pilot as Leonard E. Boltz of Pearson and reported that the aircraft “experienced a mechanical issue” during approach.
- Wausau Fire Department deployed an airboat and a Rapid Deployment Craft, locating the survivors on a sandbar and transporting them to shore.
- Federal Aviation Administration said it will investigate the loss of power. The National Transportation Safety Board will await the FAA’s assessment before determining its level of involvement.
- David Crowley, Democratic gubernatorial candidate, posted on X that he was grateful no one was seriously hurt and praised the pilot’s actions.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on the exact time of the water landing: the Marathon County Sheriff’s Office cited a report at 8:49 p.m., the Wausau Fire Department described the event as occurring “just before 9 p.m.,” and a local outlet gave a slightly earlier estimate. The cause of the power loss remains unidentified pending mechanical analysis.