Titanic and Braveheart composer James Horner has died in a plane crash near Santa Barbara at age 61.

A single-engine plane owned by the Academy Award-winning composer crashed on Monday in Ventura County, in California. Initially the name of the occupant, who was pronounced dead, was not released but Horner's assistant Sylvia Patrycja has since confirmed that Horner was the pilot.

"We have lost an amazing person with a huge heart and unbelievable talent," Patrycja wrote on Horner's Facebook page on Monday. "He died doing what he loved. Thank you for all your support and love and see you down the road."