Rep. Tom Tiffany survives emergency plane landing in Wisconsin lake
Republican U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany, who is running for governor of Wisconsin, and his pilot swam to safety after their small plane lost power and made an emergency landing in a lake.
Tiffany had attended a Lincoln Day dinner in La Crosse and was flying to Wausau in a four-seat Beechcraft Bonanza when the engine lost power during the final approach to Wausau Downtown Airport. He was traveling with private pilot Leonard Boltz, an Air Force-trained pilot.
“As we went to our final approach, the plane lost power and Len said to me, ‘We are going down. Pull your seatbelt tight,’” Tiffany said at a briefing. About 10 seconds later, the plane hit the water.
Tiffany said Boltz raised the landing gear before impact, a decision he believes may have saved their lives. The two men opened the door after the aircraft settled in the water, called 911 and remained on top of the plane as it slowly submerged.
They eventually left the aircraft and began swimming toward the airport, Tiffany said. After going about 100 to 150 feet, they reached a shallow area and waited for rescuers, who arrived by boat about five minutes later.
Both men were taken to a hospital. Tiffany received 12 stitches above his eyebrow after his head struck the dashboard, while Boltz received four stitches. Both also suffered minor scratches.
Tiffany became visibly emotional as he thanked the pilot and first responders. “Just grateful to the Lord for sparing us to see another day,” he said.
Tiffany said the crash will not deter his campaign for governor. The cause of the loss of power was not immediately known.
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Ella Rae Greene, Editor In Chief
