Story highlights A small plane belonging to Horner crashed Monday in California

Horner scored several blockbuster movies, including "Titanic," "Braveheart" and "Avatar"

Los Angeles (CNN) Academy Award-winning composer James Horner, known for his impressive body of work spanning multiple movie genres, died Monday after the small plane he was piloting crashed in central California, his agency said Tuesday. He was 61.

Horner, best known for scoring the movie "Titanic," was "an avid and experienced pilot," the statement from the Gorfaine/Schwartz agency said.

The Hollywood Reporter reported his death, attributing the confirmation to Sylvia Patrycja, his assistant.

Patrycja posted on her Facebook page. "A great tragedy has struck my family today, and I will not be around for a while. I would like some privacy and time to heal," Horner's assistant, Sylvia

"We have lost an amazing person with a huge heart, and unbelievable talent. He died doing what he loved. Thank you for all your support and love and see you down the road. Love Sylvia."