In a statement, the Navy said the pilot has been determined dead because the aircraft is reported to be "a total loss."
The pilot's identity is being withheld, pending notification of kin.
The F/A-18C fighter jet was conducting a training flight prior to the crash around 3 p.m. Saturday, Navy officials said. The aircraft was on loan to the Naval Strike and Air Warfare Center at Naval Air Station in Fallon, Nev. The crash happened about 70 miles east of Fallon, Navy officials said.
There were no reports of any other injuries or damage in the crash, and the aircraft was not carrying any weapons or other munitions on the training flight, the Navy said.
A safety investigation will be conducted to determine the cause of the crash.
ABC News contributed to this report.
