MAF Pilot Drowns In Indonesia Swimming Accident | Aero-News Network
Aero-News Network
RSS icon RSS feed
podcast icon MP3 podcast
Subscribe Aero-News e-mail Newsletter Subscribe

Airborne Unlimited -- Most Recent Daily Episodes

Episode Date

Airborne-Monday

Airborne-Tuesday

Airborne-Wednesday Airborne-Thursday

Airborne-Friday

Airborne On YouTube

Airborne-Unlimited-06.23.25

Airborne-NextGen-06.24.25

AirborneUnlimited-06.25.25

Airborne-AffordableFlyers-06.26.25

AirborneUnlimited-06.27.25

Wed, Nov 10, 2010

MAF Pilot Drowns In Indonesia Swimming Accident

Was Trying To Rescue Young Swimmers Swept Away From Shore

Benjamin T. Uskert, a pilot and mechanic serving in Sumatra, Indonesia with MAF (Mission Aviation Fellowship), died Sunday, Nov. 7, in a swimming accident.


(L-R) Benjamin, Jeremiah, Katie Uskert

Uskert was at a beach with a group from a local orphanage when two teenagers ventured into deep water and were swept away from the shore.  He and another adult swam out to assist them, but Uskert and one of the youths were overcome by the waves and current.  Uskert was pronounced dead at the scene; the body of the teenager has not been recovered.

"We are profoundly saddened by the loss of our friend and fellow worker in Christ, as well as the young man he was attempting to rescue," said John Boyd, president and chief executive officer of MAF. "Please pray for Ben's wife, Katie, and son, Jeremiah, as well as the other members of the family."

The Uskerts joined MAF in 2008.  They attended language school in Indonesia for nine months before beginning service with the MAF Sumatra program in December 2009. Memorial services will be held on Saturday, Nov.13, in Banda Aceh, Sumatra, Indonesia.

A fund has been established to assist with the cost of family members' travel to Indonesia. MAF has served in Sumatra since 2004, when the organization played a key role in the recovery efforts following the deadly Tsunami that devastated the Aceh area. 

Uskert was born and reared in Valparaiso, Ind., and accepted Jesus as his Savior at an early age.  He graduated from Purdue University in 2003 with a Bachelor of Science in Aviation Technology.  He took additional courses at Trinity Bible College and Moody Bible Institute.  Prior to joining MAF, Uskert worked as an aircraft technician and trainer.  He also served as director of maintenance for the Indiana Aviation Museum, overseeing a fleet of 17 aircraft.  He married Katie Tucker in 2005, and their son, Jeremiah, was born in 2007.

FMI: www.maf.org

Advertisement

More News

ANN's Daily Aero-Linx (06.29.25)

Aero Linx: Transport Canada We are a federal institution, leading the Transport Canada portfolio and working with our partners. Transport Canada is responsible for transportation p>[...]

ANN's Daily Aero-Term (06.29.25): Gross Navigation Error (GNE)

Gross Navigation Error (GNE) A lateral deviation from a cleared track, normally in excess of 25 Nautical Miles (NM). More stringent standards (for example, 10NM in some parts of th>[...]

Classic Aero-TV: Anticipating Futurespace - Blue Origin Visits Airventure 2017

From AirVenture 2017 (YouTube Edition): Flight-Proven Booster On Display At AirVenture… EAA AirVenture Oshkosh is known primarily as a celebration of experimental and amateu>[...]

NTSB Final Report: Cirrus SR22

Aircraft Parachute System (CAPS) Was Deployed About 293 Ft Above Ground Level, Which Was Too Low To Allow For Full Deployment Of The Parachute System Analysis: The day before the a>[...]

Airborne Affordable Flyers 06.26.25: PA18 Upgrades, ‘Delta Force’, Rhinebeck

Also: 48th Annual Air Race Classic, Hot Air Balloon Fire, FAA v Banning 100LL, Complete Remote Pilot The news Piper PA-18 Super Cub owners have been waiting for has finally arrived>[...]

blog comments powered by Disqus



Advertisement

Advertisement

Podcasts

Advertisement

© 2007 - 2025 Web Development & Design by Pauli Systems, LC