Boise KBOI meteorologist one of two killed in Payette River plane crash
Idaho CBS News Channel 2 chief meteorologist Roland Steadham was one of two people killed in a plane crash along the Payette River on Tuesday, according to the local news outlet.
Steadham, 67, and another man, who hasn’t been identified, were aboard a small plane that clipped a power line and crashed into the icy river west of Montour and northeast of Emmett shortly before 11 a.m. Tuesday, according to the Gem County Sheriff’s Office and KBOI 2 News.
Deputies responded at about 10:58 a.m. and found that the plane’s two passengers were “fatally injured,” according to the Sheriff’s Office.
“For the past decade, Roland Steadham guided people through storm after storm in Idaho,” KBOI reported. “He loved to study the weather and shared it with people across Idaho. Roland’s excitement for the weather was contagious.”
Steadham, the son of a Cuban immigrant, worked as a meteorologist for 35 years, with half of his career spent in South Florida forecasting hurricanes and severe thunderstorms for NBC 6 in Miami, according to his biography and LinkedIn. He then went on to work in Salt Lake City before making his way to KBOI.
He also shared a love for flying, and operated a small aircraft out of Emmett, KBOI reported. It’s unclear whether Steadham was flying the plane, but he had a commercial pilot’s license.
Steadham was a “beloved” member of the community, but no one loved him more than his family, according to the TV station’s report. He is survived by his wife, Erin, along with six children and grandchildren, KBOI wrote — family with whom he spent time kayaking throughout Idaho and having backyard barbecues.
“All of us will remember him talking with great love for Erin,” KBOI wrote. “Rarely did he have a conversation without sharing about his love for his family.”
The Gem County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the crash.
This story was originally published January 27, 2026 at 7:03 PM.
