No serious injuries in Labor Day float plane incident

A Madison man escaped serious injury on Monday when the single engine float plane he was flying flipped over upon landing on Island Lake in Boulder Junction.

Matthias Statz sustained a scraped knee and what Boulder Junction fire chief Jason Maurer said Tuesday were “some bumps and bruises,” as a result of the mishap.

The plane Statz was flying had to be removed from the lake by a Manitowish Waters excavating company. 

On Tuesday morning, the company took the aircraft to a private landing and tipped it onto its wheels and floats. 

There were initial concerns about fuel leakage from the aircraft and Maurer said as a precautionary measure, Boulder Junction fire department personnel deployed fuel absorbent fuel spill booms. 

“The fuel tanks were all sealed and there were check valves,” he reported. “Nothing serious. There was no death. Luckily, everybody came out safe and that’s the main outcome.”

The incident is being investigated by personnel with the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board. 

Brian Jopek may be reached via email at [email protected].