Congressman’s Plane Dies Mid-Air, Emergency Water Landing

Rep. Tom Tiffany and his pilot swam from a sinking plane after a power loss forced a water landing on Lake Wausau.

Story Snapshot

The plane lost power near Wausau Downtown Airport and ditched in Lake Wausau.
Tiffany and the pilot called 911, exited as the aircraft sank, and swam to safety.
Both sustained minor injuries and were treated at a local hospital.
Officials will review what caused the loss of power, a common focus after such events.

Power Loss, A Quick Decision, And A Cold Swim

Rep. Tom Tiffany said the small plane he was riding in lost power as it approached Wausau Downtown Airport on Saturday night. The pilot aimed for Lake Wausau and set the aircraft down on the water. After the plane settled, Tiffany said they called 911, then got out as the aircraft began to sink. They swam toward shallow water and reached the shore, where help arrived soon after.

Emergency crews took Tiffany and the pilot to a nearby hospital, where doctors treated both for minor injuries. Local outlets reported the response and confirmed the brief hospital stay. The scene shifted fast from a dark lake to bright hospital lights, which often happens when a ditching goes well enough to save lives. The calm of trained actions appears to have beaten panic and cold water that night.

What We Know About The Aircraft And Approach

Local reports describe a four-seat, single-engine airplane on approach to Wausau Downtown Airport when the engine lost power. The reported plan to reach the runway gave way to the safer choice: put it on the lake rather than risk a stall over homes and streets. A water landing can bruise egos and bodies, but it trades metal for lives. That is why pilots study where to go when the prop stops turning.

Tiffany had been returning from the La Crosse County Lincoln Day Dinner when the flight went wrong. He later thanked the pilot, first responders, and the community for their help. He also shared a simple summary that fits the facts: the engine lost power; the pilot ditched; they got out and swam. That sequence is plain and serious, the kind that sticks in memory because it is tight and direct.

Why Water Landings Often Save Lives

National Transportation Safety Board reports group these events as loss of power followed by a forced water landing. Many end in survival because pilots can use the surface as a runway. The key steps are speed control, a gentle touchdown, and quick exit. Drowning after the landing is the big danger, not the impact itself, which is why getting out fast matters most when the cabin starts to fill.

Wisconsin GOP gubernatorial nominee Tom Tiffany and his pilot swam to safety with minor injuries after their small plane lost power and made an emergency water landing in Lake Wausau late Saturday night. https://t.co/Nogn1tpAV4

— The Heartland Post (@HeartlandPostWI) September 13, 2026

Investigators usually look first at fuel issues, air induction, ignition problems, or maintenance history when an engine quits. Some cases end with a clear cause; others do not. One Federal record shows an airplane that lost power for an undetermined reason and ended up in the water, much like this event. The take-home lesson is steady training and sound judgment. Both showed up on Lake Wausau when it counted.

A Familiar Pattern In A Week Of Aviation Scares

High-profile flights hit rough patches more often than most people think. A door seal problem grounded a charter carrying Vice President JD Vance earlier this month, and a United States Coast Guard jet with Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin made an emergency landing after an engine issue. None of these incidents change the core truth: crews who practice and choose safety first keep people alive.