On January 26, 2026, a small single-engine airplane crashed into the frozen surface of the Payette River in Gem County, Idaho, after striking a power line during a low-level flight near the Black Canyon area east of Emmett. The two occupants aboard the aircraft, both adult men from the Treasure Valley region, lost their lives in the impact and subsequent wreckage.
The victims were identified as Dallin Laufenberg of Meridian and Roland Steadham, a 67-year-old chief meteorologist for CBS2 in Boise, well-known across Idaho for his long career in broadcasting weather reports. Authorities withheld initial names pending family notifications, but confirmations emerged as the community learned of the loss of two local figures in a single tragic event. The shared Idaho roots of both men amplified the shock felt throughout the area.
The flight appeared to be a private recreational or personal trip, with the plane traveling at low altitude along the river corridor when it clipped overhead power lines shortly before 11 a.m. The collision severed the lines, triggering an immediate power outage affecting thousands of Idaho Power customers across the region, including parts of Emmett and surrounding rural areas. The aircraft then plummeted onto the thick ice covering the Payette River, breaking through in places and coming to rest partially submerged in the remote, rugged terrain.
Gem County Sheriff’s Office deputies and emergency responders from multiple agencies arrived promptly after reports of the downed plane and widespread outages. First responders located the wreckage on the river ice, confirming no survivors at the scene despite the rapid deployment of search and rescue teams equipped for cold-water operations. The challenging location, amid icy conditions and limited access, required careful coordination to secure the site and recover the occupants.
The National Transportation Safety Board has launched a full investigation into the crash, focusing on flight path, altitude decisions, potential visibility issues, and the hazards of low flying near power infrastructure in the river valley. Federal Aviation Administration records show the plane was registered to a limited liability company, with preliminary efforts centered on retrieving data recorders and examining the severed lines to determine the exact sequence leading to the strike.
The Meridian and broader Boise-area community continues to reel from the death of Dallin Laufenberg, a young man remembered by friends and acquaintances for his ties to the region and the quiet presence he maintained in daily life. As tributes emerge alongside those for his fellow occupant, families navigate private grief while the investigation seeks answers to prevent similar incidents in Idaho’s scenic but unforgiving aviation environments.