Roland Steadham, a 67-year-old veteran meteorologist and the chief meteorologist for CBS2, passed away on Tuesday, January 27, 2026. His death was the result of a small aircraft accident, in which the plane clipped a power line and crashed on the icy surface of the Payette River in Gem County, Idaho. The tragic event occurred near Emmett, west of Montour, causing the death of both male passengers in the aircraft.
The accident was reported at 10:58 a.m. and deputies from the Gem County Sheriff’s Office quickly responded to the call at the jet ski park turnout along the Payette River. The aircraft had lost contact at 10:55 a.m., only 12 minutes after taking off from Emmett Airport. The Gem County Sheriff’s Office is currently investigating the incident.
The aircraft was registered to Northwest Registered Agent LLC and the second casualty in the crash was identified as Dallin Laufenberg from Meridian, Idaho.
The crash resulted in significant disturbances in the local area. Over 5,300 Idaho Power customers were left without power due to the incident. Power was restored by 2:45 p.m. Schools in Horseshoe Bend, Idaho, had to cancel classes for the rest of the day because of the initial power outage. Deputies from the Gem County Sheriff’s Office, as well as Gem County Fire and EMS, stayed on the scene while Idaho Power collaborated with first responders to restore power after ensuring the scene was secured.
Steadham had been the chief meteorologist at CBS2, the CBS affiliate KBOI-TV in Boise, Idaho, for the past 10 years. He had over 35 years of experience in meteorology, having worked at several stations across the United States during his career. He spent a decade (1996-2006) working at WTVJ-NBC6 in Miami, Florida, and later worked at WPLG Local 10, also in Miami, from 2013 to 2014. Prior to moving to Idaho, he had also held positions at KUTV and KTVX, both in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Besides being a seasoned meteorologist, Steadham was also a skilled pilot, owning a small aircraft and enjoying recreational flying. He was a commercially licensed pilot with more than 3,000 flight hours. Just a week before his untimely death, Steadham had visited an aviation class at Payette River Regional Technical Academy in Emmett, Idaho, where he shared his passion for flying with students.
His enthusiasm for weather and aviation extended beyond his professional responsibilities. Steadham was also an avid skydiver, showcasing his deep love for activities involving the atmosphere that he had been studying for decades. His colleagues at CBS2 fondly remembered his contagious interest in the weather, noting his love for studying atmospheric conditions and sharing his discoveries with the people of Idaho.
Steadham received his education from Brigham Young University and the University of Utah. His academic background laid the foundation for a career that would last over three decades and impact viewers in multiple media markets across the United States.
Apart from his professional accomplishments, Steadham was a dedicated family man. He is survived by his wife, Erin, their six daughters, and several grandchildren. Those who knew him noted that he seldom had a conversation without expressing his love for his family. In recent years, he and his family enjoyed kayaking across Idaho and spending time together grilling food in their backyard. Roland loved to talk about his daughters and grandchildren, their achievements, their zest for life, and their love for the outdoors.
CBS2 honored their long-serving colleague following news of the crash. “For the past decade, Roland Steadham guided people through storm after storm in Idaho,” the station stated. “He loved to study the weather and shared it with people across Idaho.”
The loss deeply affected the aviation community in the Emmett, Idaho area, where Steadham had become a well-known figure. His recent visit to the technical academy’s aviation class left a lasting impression on both students and faculty. Jim Baker, a teacher at the academy, recalled Steadham’s final words to the class, sharing the meteorologist’s enthusiasm for young people to consider careers in aviation. “He was just so excited about it,” Baker said. “He really wanted these kids to know that aviation is a great field to get into.”
For Steadham, meteorology and aviation were more than just career interests – they were passions he actively pursued throughout his life. His work entailed understanding atmospheric conditions that directly related to his hobby as a pilot. The combination of these two fields allowed him to apply his professional knowledge to his personal pursuits, making him particularly conscious of the weather’s impact on flight safety.
Steadham’s career spanned some of the nation’s most diverse weather markets. His decade in South Florida exposed him to tropical weather systems, including hurricanes that regularly pose a threat to the region. His time in Salt Lake City, Utah, acquainted him with mountain weather patterns and winter storms. Lastly, his years in Idaho introduced him to the varied conditions of the Intermountain West, where weather can shift rapidly and dramatically.
Steadham’s colleagues and viewers across multiple states remembered him not only for his professional expertise but also for his genuine enthusiasm for his work. His ability to explain complex weather information in an accessible manner made him a reliable source during severe weather events. Whether monitoring summer thunderstorms, winter blizzards, or the odd tornado, Steadham maintained the excitement and curiosity that initially drew him to meteorology.
Aviation safety experts point out that power lines pose a significant risk to low-flying aircraft, especially in rural areas where they may be less visible against the landscape. The wires can be difficult to spot, particularly during specific lighting conditions or when a pilot’s attention is concentrated on other flight aspects. While investigations into the crash are ongoing, the accident serves as a reminder of the hazards that even experienced pilots face when operating small aircraft.
The area around the Payette River, where the crash took place, is recognized for its scenic beauty and recreational opportunities, including the jet ski park near the crash site. The frozen river conditions at the time of the incident mirrored the winter weather that is typical of the region during January. The crash site, situated west of Montour in Gem County, is located in a relatively rural area northwest of Boise, Idaho.
Steadham’s death signifies the loss of a meteorologist who dedicated over three decades of his life to aiding communities in anticipating and understanding weather events. From the early stages of his career through his final years at CBS2 in Boise, Idaho, he remained committed to public service through weather forecasting, combining scientific expertise with a talent for connecting with viewers. His legacy extends beyond the forecasts he delivered and includes the students he mentored and the passion for both meteorology and aviation he shared with others.
