Let L-23 SUPER BLANIK N231LS

Summary

On 6 September 2025 at about 20:15 local time, a Let L-23 SUPER BLANIK registered N231LS, operated by Lowcountry Soaring Association, was involved in an accident near Ridgeland, South Carolina, United States. One person was on board and one was seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

6 September 2025 at 20:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Ridgeland, South Carolina, United States

Nearest airport

Ridgeland-Claude Dean (3J1)

Coordinates

32.4969, -80.9931

Aircraft

Let L-23 SUPER BLANIK

Registration

N231LS

Category

Glider

Year built

1993

Operator

Lowcountry Soaring Association

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA25LA336

1 person was seriously injured.

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.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

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.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.