Who is Leonard Boltz? We look at the political and aviation records of the pilot who made an emergency landing with Tom Tiffany on board
WAUSAU, Wis. (CBS 58) – Online records show the political and aviation history of the man who landed the plane on Lake Wausau with Congressman Tom Tiffany on board.
The pilot, 73-year-old Leonard Boltz of Pearson, Wisconsin, made the emergency landing in Lake Wausau around 8:50 on Saturday, Sept. 12.
“As we went to our final approach, the plane lost power, and {Leonard Boltz} said, 'we are going down, pull your seatbelt tight,'” Tiffany said to reporters on Sunday.
Boltz and Tiffany were transported to a local hospital, where they were treated for minor injuries. Tiffany spoke to reporters with 12 stitches above his right eyebrow on Sunday.
According to his campaign, Tiffany was on the campaign trail Monday in Madison and the Dells, and is taking Tuesday and Wednesday to spend time with his family. He will resume campaigning on Thursday at a convention in Kenosha before holding two Tavern Talks in Dodge County and Fond du Lac.
According to a statement from Tom Tiffany’s campaign, Boltz is “one of the pilots who has helped Tom cover thousands of miles across Wisconsin and campaign in all 72 counties.”
Political background of Leonard Boltz
Boltz is a familiar name within the Republican Party in Wisconsin.
According to a campaign video where Boltz was filmed endorsing a former candidate for secretary of state, Boltz said he is a retired airline pilot and a retired major in the U.S. Air Force.
“I know quality people when I see them,” Boltz said in the video.
In 2024, Boltz was one of a handful of Republicans recommended felony charges for their involvement in an alleged scheme to funnel campaign donations to a 2022 primary opponent of Assembly Speaker Robin Vos. Ultimately, Boltz was not charged.
Boltz has made consistent contributions to Wisconsin’s GOP campaigns, dating back to the Scott Walker era. Based on those campaign finance reports, Boltz has flown Tiffany at least 12 times as a form of in-kind contributions to the campaign.
Aviation background of Leonard Boltz
In a statement on Tuesday, the Tiffany campaign said it’s typical for Tiffany’s flights to only include the congressman and the pilot.
Boltz was praised by members of both parties for his ability to safely land the plane in Lake Wausau. Online records with the FAA show Boltz has had his airline transport pilot certificate since 2008 and also holds flight engineer and mechanic certificates.
The plane registered to Boltz, according to FAA records, is a Fixed Wing Single-Engine from 1959.
CBS 58’s Kathryn Merck called Boltz on Tuesday. When asked about the flight, he said he would not make any comments.
“I’ve been told not to speak, my apologies,” Boltz said.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are looking into Saturday’s emergency landing. The NTSB tries to complete an investigation within 12 to 24 months, but these and other factors can greatly affect that timing.