Ventura County fire spokesman Mike Lindbery said the crash happened around 9.30am in the Los Padres National Forest, with the Federal Aviation Administration adding that the plane was an S-312 Tucano MK1 turbo-prop with two seats and that the debris was spread across an acre of land.

Crews extinguished a fire that erupted in vegetation after the plane became engulfed in flames upon impact, about 100 miles northwest of Los Angeles.

Horner, a husband and father of two, was later confirmed dead by one of his employees.

Horner's assistant, Sylvia Patrycja, confirmed that it was the beloved composer who died in the tragic accident.

'We have lost an amazing person with a huge heart, and unbelievable talent,' Patrycja wrote on Facebook.

'He died doing what he loved. Thank you for all your support and love and see you down the road.'

Jay Cooper, an attorney for Horner, said the plane was one of several owned by the 61-year-old composer.

Horner’s representatives have not commented on the issue.