Roland Steadham, the chief meteorologist of CBS affiliate station CBS2 in Boise, Idaho, has died at the age of 67 following a tragic plane crash in the state

Roland Steadham, a beloved member of the CBS News team has died following a plane crash. He was 67.

Steadham, who worked for Boise-based CBS affiliate station CBS2, was one of two people who died in the tragic plane crash that happened on Tuesday, January 27, on the Payette River near Emmett, Idaho. The crash occurred after his plane clipped a power line and plummeted into the icy river below.

The crash allegedly occurred just 12 minutes after take-off from the Emmett Airport, with the plane losing contact at 10:55 a.m. Pictures from the scene later emerged to show rescue teams on a boat in the water. News of the death comes as various anchors at

In a statement on Facebook Tuesday, the Gem County Sheriff’s office confirmed details of the crash, but did not immediately release details about the identity of the other man on board the aircraft or any other information about the circumstances behind the crash.

“Preliminary information indicates that a small plane clipped a power line and crashed upon the ice in the river,” the statement read.

It is not known if Steadham was piloting the aircraft at the time of the crash, but an article from his station announcing the news revealed he was “widely respected as an accomplished pilot.”

Steadham graduated from both Brigham Young University and the University of Utah, and worked at several different outlets over the years as a chief meteorologist.

Photos emerged showing rescuers tending to the wreckage in the icy water

They included Miami-based NBC affiliate WTVJ, CBS affiliate KUTV in Salt Lake City, and ABC affiliate KTVX in Salt Lake City before joining the CBS2 team in Boise.

Viewers paid tribute to him on Facebook after learning of his death.

“He was a friend that my wife and I would see often at the McDonald’s here in Star. He always had time to talk about the weather and his life of flying his plane,” one person wrote.

“God bless Roland’s family! We lost a beautiful person today doing what he loved to do,” another wrote.

In their own statement about his death, CBS2 wrote of his love for the weather among other things.

Steadham and one other man were killed in the crash

“For the past decade, Roland Steadham guided people through storm after storm in Idaho. He loved to study the weather and shared it with people across Idaho,” they wrote.

“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. Roland trained countless Meteorologists who continue to inform the public across the country.”

CBS also noted his love of flying, and Idaho6 shared he had visited with aviation students at the Payette River Regional Technical Academy just one week prior to his death.

“The last thing he said before leaving class was, ‘I’ve enjoyed years of flying…it’s been so good to me…and I’d really encourage you guys to pursue aviation,” teacher Jim Baker told the news outlet.

Steadham is survived by his wife, six children, and several grandchildren.