# Accident 20250906017079A: Let L-23 SUPER BLANIK, Ridgeland, SC, September 6, 2025

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 6, 2025, 16:45 local time
- Place: Ridgeland, SC
- Airport: Ridgeland-Claude Dean
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Touchdown
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 32.4969° N, 80.9931° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.4969&lon=-80.9931&mi=10
- Aircraft: N231LS, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N231LS) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Let L-23 SUPER BLANIK (registry code 1360308, https://openairdocs.org/model/let-l-23-super-blanik) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: NONE (registry code 00000, https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: LET L-23 SUPER BLANIK
- Reported engine: NONE NONE
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot, student
- Pilot flight hours: 401 total, 10 in this make and model, 37 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA25LA336](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25LA336) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250906017079A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

THIS WAS THE STUDENT PILOTS SECOND SOLO IN A GLIDER UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF HER CFI. THE TEMPERATURE WAS HIGH AND THERE WAS NOT A LOT OF LIFT ON THE DAY OF THE ACCIDENT. UPON LANDING ATTEMPT, THE PILOT REALIZED SHE WAS TOO HIGH AND DID A FEW 360 DEGREE TURNS TO LOSE ALTITUDE. SHE MISTAKENLY LEFT THE SPOILERS RETRACTED AND CONDUCTED A FORWARD SLIP AND THEN GAINED AIRSPEED AS SHE PUSHED THE CONTROL STICK FORWARD WHICH INCREASED LIFT AND OVERSHOT THE INTENDED LANDING POINT, THE AIRSPEED INCREASED TO 90 KTS ACCORDING TO THE PILOT STATEMENT. AT THIS POINT THE PILOT INCREASED ELEVATOR AND SLOWED THE GLIDER TO 55 KTS AT THE END OF THE RUNWAY, TURNED TO THE LEFT NEARLY 180 DEGREES AND IMPACTED TERRAIN.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB ERA25LA336](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25LA336), Sep 6, 2025: Let L-23 Super Blanik (N231LS), Ridgeland, SC, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s exceedance of the glider’s critical angle of attack which resulted in a loss of control while maneuvering to return for landing after a runway overshoot.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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