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A beloved meteorologist died in a small plane crash in Idaho on Tuesday.
CBS 2 Boise Chief Meteorologist Roland Steadham, 67, was one of two individuals who passed away in the crash.
“This morning, our hearts are broken as we mourn the loss of CBS2 Chief Meteorologist Roland Steadham. He loved the outdoors, weather, flying, and above all – his family. We’re thankful for all the time his family shared him with us and with you,” CBS 2 wrote on social media.
This morning, our hearts are broken as we mourn the loss of CBS2 Chief Meteorologist Roland Steadham.
He loved the outdoors, weather, flying, and above all – his family.
We’re thankful for all the time his family shared him with us and with you.https://t.co/XyO2hDptG4— CBS2 News (@CBS2Boise) January 28, 2026
CBS 2 shared more:
He and another person, identified by the Gem County Coroner as Dallin Laufenberg, were on the plane when it crashed on the Payette River near Emmett.
Roland Steadham is a beloved member of this community, but no one loves him more than his family. Roland often talked about his wife, Erin, and his six children and grandchildren. In recent years, he and his family have enjoyed their time kayaking throughout Idaho and spending time together grilling food in their backyard. Roland loved to share about his six kids and his grandchildren. He talked about their accomplishments, their love for life, and the outdoors. Roland always looked forward to visits with his grandkids. All of us will remember him talking with great love for Erin. Rarely did he have a conversation without sharing about his love for his family.
Roland loved his animals. It was often that his dog would accompany him to the station and watch his forecasts. He also liked to share updates with the team about his cats.
Across the Treasure Valley, Roland was widely respected as an accomplished pilot. He shared his love of flying with the community. Roland operated a small aircraft out of Emmett. It was a hobby he enjoyed and often would share stories about local pilots and their accomplishments.
The National Weather Service shared a beautiful tribute to the memory of our friend and colleague, Chief Meteorologist Roland Steadham, saying he was a “steadfast advocate for weather safety, a calm voice during the storm…” https://t.co/fIh0GvcTqi
— CBS2 News (@CBS2Boise) January 28, 2026
PEOPLE noted:
On Tuesday, around 10:58 a.m. local time, officials responded to a report of a plane crash near Payette River, just west of Montour, Idaho, the Gem County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement.
A preliminary investigation revealed that “a small plane clipped a power line and crashed upon the ice in the river.” Two male occupants were on board and were fatally injured, officials said. The crash took out power in the area, which crew members worked on fixing as soon as the scene was secure. Officials did not reveal who was flying the plane at the time of the incident.
In a statement shared with PEOPLE, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed that a small aircraft carrying two people crashed into a frozen river near Emmett. “The FAA and [the National Transportation Safety Board] will investigate. The NTSB will be in charge of the investigation and will provide further updates,” the agency said.
An investigator for the NTSB is expected to arrive at the scene on Wednesday, Jan. 28, a spokesperson for the agency confirmed to PEOPLE.
CBS 2 shared a tribute to Steadham: