Additional Coverage:
Beloved Idaho Meteorologist Roland Steadham Dies in Tragic Plane Crash
IDAHO – The Idaho community is mourning the loss of a familiar face and voice, as longtime television weatherman Roland Steadham, chief meteorologist for CBS2, was identified as one of two fatalities in a small plane crash near Emmett on Tuesday, January 27. He was 67 years old.
The Gem County Sheriff’s Office reported that emergency services responded to a plane crash report at approximately 10:58 a.m. local time, near the Payette River, just west of Montour. Preliminary investigations suggest the small aircraft struck a power line before crashing onto the frozen river, resulting in the fatal injuries of both male occupants. Authorities have not yet released information regarding who was piloting the plane at the time of the incident.
KBOI, the CBS affiliate, shared a heartfelt tribute to Steadham, stating, “For the past decade, Roland Steadham guided people through storm after storm in Idaho. He loved to study the weather and shared it with people across Idaho. Roland’s excitement for the weather was contagious.”
Beyond his professional role, Steadham was remembered as a devoted family man. The station highlighted his frequent discussions about his wife, Erin, his six children, and his grandchildren.
“Rarely did he have a conversation without sharing about his love for his family,” KBOI noted. In recent years, he cherished kayaking in Idaho and backyard grilling with his loved ones.
Steadham’s passion extended to recreational flying; he owned a small aircraft and often shared stories of local pilots’ achievements, a hobby he deeply enjoyed.
Having attended the University of Utah and Brigham Young University, Steadham began his distinguished career in meteorology in 1995.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has confirmed the crash and stated that both the FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will be investigating the incident, with the NTSB leading the inquiry and providing further updates.