Tom Tiffany (center) poses with Wausau first responders the day after he was rescued from a plane crash into Lake Wausau. MWC photo by Mike Leischner
WAUSAU, WI (WSAU-WAOW) – The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) released a preliminary report on what happened when a plane carrying gubernatorial candidate and Republican Congressman Tom Tiffany made an emergency landing on Lake Wausau.
The plane was headed from La Crosse to Wausau on Saturday, September 12. According to the NTSB report, while preparing the plane for a landing in Wausau, the pilot reported a higher-than-normal engine exhaust gas temperature, which reminded him to switch fuel tanks. When he switched to the right main tank, the engine did not respond.
The pilot said he did not turn on the electric fuel boost pump while he tried to restore engine power, the NTSB report states. At that point, the pilot maneuvered the airplane toward the runway at the airport and prepared for a water landing.
The pilot and Rep. Tiffany got out of the plane safely after it hit the water. Both came away with minor injuries.
Prior to the flight from La Crosse to Wausau, the pilot had flown from Langlade County Airport to La Crosse Regional Airport. He left Langlade County with full fuel, but did not refuel in La Crosse. The NTSB report said the pilot stated that he had the left main fuel tank selected for both flight legs, except for when he briefly went to the auxiliary tanks.
The aircraft was examined after it was recovered from the water. The examination showed the left main tank was empty. The right main tank and both auxiliary tanks were full of fuel.
An inspector with the Federal Aviation Administration spoke with the pilot’s aviation mechanic after the crash. The mechanic said he and the pilot had talked about the accident, during which the pilot said the loss of engine power was due to his delay in switching fuel tanks and not turning on the electric fuel boost pump.
The NTSB is still investigating and will issue a final report at a later date.
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