A longtime television weatherman has died in a small plane crash in Idaho earlier this week.
On Tuesday, Jan. 27, Roland Steadham, the chief meteorologist for CBS2, was named as one of the people who died in the two-person crash near Emmett, Idaho earlier that day, CBS affiliate the weather and shared it with people across Idaho. Roland’s excitement for the weather was contagious."
According to the Gem County Sheriff’s Office, officials responded to a report of a plane crash near the Payette River, just west of Montour, Idaho, on Tuesday at 10:58 a.m. local time.
Preliminary information, authorities said, indicated that the small plane clipped a power line and crashed upon the ice in the river. Both male occupants were "fatally injured" in the crash, authorities said.
Officials did not reveal who was flying the plane at the time of the incident.
The chief meteorologist, 67, was a devoted husband, father of six and grandfather, the station said.
"Roland often talked about his wife, Erin, and his six children and grandchildren," KBOI said. "In recent years, he and his family have enjoyed their time kayaking throughout Idaho and spending time together grilling food in their backyard."
"Rarely did he have a conversation without sharing about his love for his family," the outlet said.
Along with his love of his family, Steadham owned a small aircraft and enjoyed recreational flying.
"It was a hobby he enjoyed and often would share stories about local pilots and their accomplishments," the outlet said.
Steadham attended the University of Utah and Brigham Young University before beginning his career as a meteorologist in 1995, according to his The FAA and NTSB will investigate. The NTSB will be in charge of the investigation and will provide further updates," the agency said.