Crews work to recover plane from Lake Wausau after Tiffany's emergency landing

WAUSAU, Wis. (CBS 58) -- Crews spent Monday morning, Sept. 14, working to pull a small plane from Lake Wausau, two days after it made an emergency water landing carrying U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany, the Republican nominee for Wisconsin governor.

Crews say they plan to use inflatable lifting bags to bring the aircraft to the surface before pulling it to shore. Part of the plane was visible breaking the water's surface Monday as divers and boats worked around it.

"This pilot had to make split second decisions and land on water in Wausau, but at night in the dark," said John Chmiel, airport manager at Wausau Downtown Airport. "When you're landing on water, it's like landing in a black hole. For this airplane to land on the water, remain upright so everybody could get out, the pilot did an excellent job. It's a miracle on Lake Wausau."

Tiffany spoke to reporters Sunday, Sept. 13 with 12 stitches above his right eyebrow.

He said he plans to resume campaigning Monday but will not be able to fly for a few days. The pilot, identified by the Marathon County Sheriff's Office as 73-year-old Leonard Boltz of Pearson, was also treated and released.

Video captured the plane landing in the water from a camera on shore. 

The FAA is investigating what caused the plane to lose power as it approached Wausau Downtown Airport on Saturday night.