Beloved CBS Weatherman, 67, Killed in Idaho

Roland Steadham, the chief meteorologist at the CBS affiliate in Boise, Idaho, has died. He was 67.

Here's What We Know

According to multiple reports, Steadham and one other person were killed on Tuesday when his plane clipped a power line and crashed into the freezing Payette River in rural Idaho.

It's being reported that Steadham, an experienced pilot, lost contact just 12 minutes after taking off from Emmett Airport.

CBS2 in Boise paid tribute to the beloved weatherman, a father of six known for bringing his dog into the studio and a graduate of BYU and the University of Utah.

A Heartwarming Statement from CBS2

"Roland Steadham is a beloved member of this community, but no one loves him more than his family. Roland often talked about his wife, Erin, and his six children and grandchildren," the station shared in a statement on its website. "In recent years, he and his family have enjoyed their time kayaking throughout Idaho and spending time together grilling food in their backyard. Roland loved to share about his six kids and his grandchildren. He talked about their accomplishments, their love for life, and the outdoors. Roland always looked forward to visits with his grandkids. All of us will remember him talking with great love for Erin. Rarely did he have a conversation without sharing about his love for his family."

The station added, "Roland loved his animals. It was often that his dog would accompany him to the station and watch his forecasts. He also liked to share updates with the team about his cats."

Steadham Was Passionate About Flying and Adventures

The crash comes a week after Steadham spoke to students at a Payette River Regional Technical Academy's (PR2TA) aviation class. Steadham had more than 3,000 flight hours under his belt.

"When he's not forecasting the weather, he spends much of his time with his head in the clouds. You see, he's also a commercially licensed pilot and avid skydiver. He's logged over 3,000 hours flying everything from competition aerobatics to twin-engine jets and gliders," his bio reads. "He also has over 700 skydives under his belt. But the mountains are his favorite form of recreation. Every weekend in the summer, you can find Roland kayaking Idaho rivers with his wife and daughters. In the spring and fall, he rides in the mountains on his dirt bike."

Steadham, a meteorologist for nearly four decades with the American Meteorological Society and National Weather Association Seal of Approval, is survived by his wife, six kids, and seven grandchildren.