SANTA BARBARA (CBSLA.com) — The pilot of a small aircraft registered to famed film composer James Horner was killed when the plane crashed into a remote area about 60 miles north of Santa Barbara on Monday.
While it was not immediately confirmed whether the pilot was Horner himself, the legendary composer’s attorney suggests that he would have received word from Horner if he were OK.
The Santa Barbara County Fire Department responded to the call at 9:30 a.m. and found a debris field that marked what was remained of the aircraft after the crash. No survivors were found.
The plane crashed near a Cuyama Valley community called Ventucopa, near Route 33 at the border between Ventura and Kern counties.
The crash sparked a 1-acre brush fire.
The FAA issued an alert notice for a single-engine S-312 Tucano MK-1.
It was not clear if mechanical failure may have been responsible for the crash, but circumstances surrounding the event were under investigation Monday.
Horner is among Hollywood’s most well-known and respected film composers, composing the scores for films including “Titanic,” “Braveheart,” “Glory” and “Legends of the Fall.” He has won Grammy Awards, Golden Globe Awards and Academy Awards.
Horner’s representatives have not commented, apart from stating that a tail number was all that was found at the site thus far.
An investigator from the National Transportation Safety Board was at the scene of the crash on Monday evening.
Horner’s attorney, who has not been able to reach Horner’s wife and daughter, was expected to make an official announcement on Tuesday morning.
http://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2015/06/22/pilot-killed-in-plane-crash-north-of-santa-barbara/