# NTSB ERA25LA336: Let L-23 Super Blanik, N231LS, Ridgeland, SC, September 6, 2025 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: September 6, 2025, 16:15 local (20:15 UTC) - Place: Ridgeland, SC - Coordinates: 32.496851, -80.993149 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.4969&lon=-80.9931&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report April 30, 2026 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 200972 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA25LA336 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/200972/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200972 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25LA336 ## 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. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Let L-23 SUPER BLANIK, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=1360308), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: angle of attack](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Capability exceeded (probable cause); cases with it: [Let L-23 SUPER BLANIK, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md?model=1360308), [All aircraft, 990 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Landing area overshoot](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/380); cases with it: [Let L-23 SUPER BLANIK, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/380/sequence.md?model=1360308), [All aircraft, 400 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/380/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) (defining event); cases with it: [Let L-23 SUPER BLANIK, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md?model=1360308), [All aircraft, 1,529 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240); cases with it: [Let L-23 SUPER BLANIK, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=1360308), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Let L-23 SUPER BLANIK, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=1360308), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot was conducting her second solo flight in pursuit of a glider rating for her private pilot certificate. The pilot stated that while in the airport traffic pattern, she was too high on the base leg and made several 360° turns near the south end of the runway in an attempt to lose altitude. After leveling off, she realized she was still too high and entered a slip without the use of the spoilers, but the glider floated toward the departure end of the runway. With little runway remaining, she attempted a right turn, but the left wing dropped, consistent with an aerodynamic stall, and contacted the ground. The glider came to rest upright in a grassy area near the end of the runway. The fuselage and left wing sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N231LS](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N231LS), registered now, S/N 938020, built 1993 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: LET L-23 SUPER BLANIK - Registry model: [Let L-23 SUPER BLANIK](https://openairdocs.org/model/let-l-23-super-blanik) (registry code 1360308) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Glider - Serial number: 938020 - Year built: 1993 - Airframe hours: 1036 - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Lowcountry Soaring Association - Registered owner: Lowcountry Soaring Association - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility - Last inspection: Annual, August 2, 2025 - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: 3J1, Ridgeland-Claude Dean, runway 36, 2,600 × 120 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 55; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: basicmed, without waivers/limitations; last flight review April 15, 2025; seat: front; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 401 total, 10 in this make and model, 345 as pilot in command, 35 in the last 90 days, 18 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 140° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 72 °F - Altimeter: 29.97 inHg - Observed at: ARW, 19 nm away - METAR: KARW 062035Z AUTO 14006KT 10SM CLR 31/22 A2997 RMK AO2 ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20250906017079A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250906017079A), Sep 6, 2025: Let L-23 SUPER BLANIK, Ridgeland, SC, Substantial damage. 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… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 30, 2026, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200972. 4.5 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 4.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20174432&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Investigative photo (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 400 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19815318&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigation%20Photograph-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record a�� telephone interview, pilot (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 84 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19815328&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MOR%20ERA26LA017%20CLAMP-Rel.pdf 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.