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A helicopter crash near Delta Junction Tuesday killed a 63-year-old Missouri man, according to Alaska State Troopers and the National Transportation Safety Board.
The crash, involving a McDonnell Douglas 600N helicopter owned by Aurora Aviation with only pilot James Hopper on board, occurred at a remote site of the Pogo gold mine about 5 p.m. Tuesday.
AST spokesperson Beth Ipsen said Wednesday that Hopper was en route to pick up miners at the remote site when his chopper crashed into the side of a hill and rolled a considerable distance. Hopper was declared dead at the scene by Pogo Mine emergency personnel.
NTSB spokesperson Clint Johnson and another investigator traveled to the site Wednesday morning to begin an investigation of the crash.
Hopper's body will be sent to the state medical examiner's office in Anchorage for an autopsy. His next of kin were notified Tuesday night.
KTUU's Neil Torquiano and Chris Klint contributed to this story.