The beloved veteran CBS meteorologist and aviation mentor who was killed in plane crash in rural Idaho told students how much he loved flying — and wished for them to one day feel the same — during his last visit before the accident.
Roland Steadham, 67, chief meteorologist at Boise-based CBS2, had been a guest lecturer at the Payette River Regional Technical Academy’s aviation class, in Emmett, Idaho 6 News reported.
“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 local outlet.
“‘To be up in the air and seeing the world from a different perspective is what it’s all about.’ And that was the last words he said to our class,” Baker added.
Steadham was aboard a small plane on Tuesday with fellow pilot Dallin Laufenberg, of Meridian, when their plane clipped a power line and went down in a remote part of the Payette River, sinking the aircraft into an icy river.
Andrew George, president of the Idaho Aviation Association, said Steadham was always eager to teach anyone eager to learn more about the skies, as evident by his popular YouTube channel where he shared his passion.
“Roland would take any opportunity he could get to teach someone about flying, the weather, even about life in general,” George told The Post, noting that it was common for Roland to take young aviators under his wing.
“I imagine he and Dallin were flying that day together just to enjoy the clear skies on a winter day,” he added.
“Accidents are bound to happen in aviation, but when you lose someone like Roland, who has so much experience, and Dallin, who was really getting started, then you feel that impact in this community.”
Baker said he and his class were also stunned when they learned about the fatal crash given the tight-knit nature of the local aviation community.
“We had this person (Steadham) in our classroom and shared concepts about aviation like he’s done many times before,” Baker said.
Baker noted that the late meteorologist loved showing up to his class to help students learn more about not just aviation, but also about weather concepts in the Emmett area.
“I’d like to think that he was out there just gathering that great footage for his weather reports and sharing it with all of us like he was so good at doing,” the teacher added.
The cause of Tuesday’s crash is still under investigation, the Gem County Sheriff’s Office said.
