Roland Steadham, the chief meteorologist at CBS 2 in Boise, Idaho, was among the victims of a fatal plane crash on Tuesday, the station announced.
Steadham, 67, and another person were in the small plane when it crashed near Emmett, about 30 miles northwest of Boise.
He was described as a pilot with years or flying experience — “a hobby he enjoyed and often would share stories about local pilots and their accomplishments,” according to the station.
The second occupant of the plane has not been identified.
The crash occurred around 10:58 a.m. in a wildlife and recreation area along the Payette River, the Gem County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement.
“Preliminary information indicates that a small plane clipped a power line and crashed upon the ice in the river,” the statement reads. “Two male occupants were aboard and both were fatally injured in the crash.”
The FAA and NTSB are investigating the crash.
Steadham worked at stations in Florida, Utah and Idaho during his 30-year career in meteorology, according to his LinkedIn profile.
“For the past decade, Roland Steadham guided people through storm after storm in Idaho,” the CBS Boise statement continues. “He loved to study the weather and shared it with people across Idaho. Roland’s excitement for the weather was contagious. He helped forecast in cities coast to coast, but fortunately, he made the Boise area his home.”
He is survived by his wife Erin, six children and grandchildren.
