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+--- Topic: TOM TIFFANY GIVES MORE INFORMATION ON PLANE CRASH AT SUNDAY EVENING PRESS CONFERENCE (/thread-871.html)
TOM TIFFANY GIVES MORE INFORMATION ON PLANE CRASH AT SUNDAY EVENING PRESS CONFERENCE - My Northern Wisconsin - 09-14-2026
Congressman Tom Tiffany, a Wisconsin gubernatorial candidate, was at the La Crosse County Lincoln Day dinner on Saturday, September 12, 2026. On his way home, the Beechcraft K35 that he was in, which was piloted by Lenny Boltz, lost power and had to make an emergency landing on Lake Wausau.
As the only two men on the plane, the pilot told him, “We are going down. Pull your seat belt tight.” About ten seconds later, the plane hit the water. After landing, they called 911. The plane began to submerge, and they exited the aircraft and swam about 100 to 150 feet to a shallow area. At that point, emergency responders reached them via boat.
According to a press release, “Tom suffered a laceration above his right eye that required [twelve] stitches and was released from the hospital last night. The pilot was also released. Tom and his family thank God that neither suffered more serious injuries and are grateful for the exceptional care he received at Aspirus Wausau Hospital.
“Tom also wants to again thank the pilot, the Wausau Fire Department, law enforcement, first responders, and everyone who helped get them safely off the water.”
In a press conference on Sunday evening, Congressman Tiffany said, "We are just really fortunate. We’re really fortunate that God was looking after us last night. We’re also really fortunate that the first responders, those behind me, the fire department, the sheriff’s department, as well as the City of Wausau Police, for their quick response. We’re really fortunate for what they did, and I can’t thank them enough for helping us in this situation.”
He credited Boltz’s experience and quick decisions with helping them survive the landing. “We’re just really fortunate that we had a skilled pilot who knew what he was doing as we were going down after we lost power."
He talked about the profound impact it was having on him at the press conference. “The gravity of this is probably just hitting me at this point....It just gives me great appreciation to be here another day, to be able to be with my wife and family.”
He added that his campaign will continue as he aims to be the next governor of Wisconsin.