Politics
Beloved GOP Candidate Reveals Injuries After Plane Crash
Wisconsin Republican gubernatorial candidate and U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany is opening up about the terrifying moments before a small plane carrying him slammed into Lake Wausau, leaving him bloodied but alive.
Tiffany, 68, said the Beechcraft Bonanza lost power Saturday night as it approached Wausau Downtown Airport after he attended the La Crosse County Lincoln Day Dinner.
Appearing on Fox News’ “Hannity” on Monday, Tiffany described the instant pilot Leonard Boltz realized they were going down.
“My memory is so vivid on that, Sean,” Tiffany told host Sean Hannity. “As we were making that final turn before we were going to approach for landing, the pilot turned to me and he said, ‘Tom, we’re going down. Pull your seat belt as tight as possible.’ And it was like staring into the abyss and you don’t know how far down it is.”
Tiffany said he immediately tightened his seat belt and prepared for impact.
“It was just a couple seconds later we hit the water and we hit it hard,” he recalled. “But the plane stayed upright thankfully as a result of the skilled work of the pilot.”
The congressman said he had flown with Boltz “numerous times” before Saturday’s emergency.
After the aircraft hit the lake, the two men checked on each other before realizing the plane was beginning to sink.
With 12 stitches in the face, the Dam Man fights on… pic.twitter.com/OVslnuX70p
— Tiffany War Room (@TiffanyWarRoom) September 15, 2026
Tiffany said they were forced to get out quickly.
“Get this door open,” Tiffany said he told the pilot as the plane began to submerge beneath the water. “It’s by the grace of God that we’re here today.”
The pair climbed onto the sinking aircraft long enough to call 911 before swimming roughly 100 to 150 feet toward shallower water.
They eventually reached a sandbar and waited for rescuers.
Officials said the first 911 call came at approximately 8:49 p.m. Saturday. Firefighters reached Tiffany and Boltz around 9:05 p.m. and brought them to safety aboard an airboat.
Tiffany was taken to the hospital with a cut above his right eye that required 12 stitches.
Boltz, 73, received four stitches.
Despite the violent impact and desperate escape, Tiffany said both men walked away with relatively minor injuries.
“Each of us had very minor injuries,” Tiffany said. “Once again, thanks to the grace of God, this is the only injury that I have, Sean. Couple little scratches and just so fortunate.”
The aircraft sank into Lake Wausau after the two men escaped and remained submerged following the crash.
The Federal Aviation Administration said the Beechcraft K35 landed in Lake Wausau at about 8:50 p.m. after the pilot reported engine problems.
The FAA is investigating the incident.
Tiffany has continued his campaign for Wisconsin governor following the crash, while praising Boltz and the first responders who pulled the pair from the lake.
For Tiffany, the ordeal came down to a matter of seconds between a routine approach and a fight to get out of a sinking airplane.
