Let L 23 SUPER BLANIK accident near Homestead, Florida, July 30, 2017
On July 30, 2017 at about 8:00 pm local time, a 1992 Let L 23 SUPER BLANIK (glider), registered N304MG, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR pattern final) near Homestead, Florida (Miami Homestead General Aviati airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The glider’s encounter with atmospheric conditions where the lift was not sufficient to maintain flight, which resulted in the pilot landing short of the intended runway.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 30, 2017 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- Homestead, Florida · Miami Homestead General Aviati · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Let L 23 SUPER BLANIK NO SERIES, built 1992 · all L 23 SUPER BLANIKs on the register
- Registration
- N304MG · registry record · serial 917929
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of a nonpowered glider reported that, while on the downwind for landing, the glider was higher than normal due to lift that was encountered. He added that, while on final approach, the glider encountered a gusting headwind, which reduced the ground speed. The glider was unable to maintain sufficient altitude and touched down short of the intended runway. The fuselage sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the glider that would have precluded normal operation. The automated weather observation system located 9 miles east of the accident airport reported that, about 2 minutes before the accident, the wind was from 260° at 14 knots, gusting to 23 knots. 27U was the intended runway.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Other weather encounter during approach (VFR pattern final)
- Loss of lift during approach (VFR pattern final) defining event
- Landing area undershoot during landing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › (general) › Ability to respond/compensate
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; rotorcraft: glider; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 131 hours in all; 20 in this make and model; 58 in the last 90 days; 33 in the last 30 days; 27 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: June 10, 2017
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Operator: N304Mg LLC.
The flight
- Departed from: X51 Homestead FL at 6:00 pm
- Destination: X51 Homestead FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27U, 2,500 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 14 knots, gusting 23
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 4,100 ft
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 79°F (26°C)
- Altimeter: 29.90 inHg
- Observation at 7:58 pm from KHST, 9 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on March 1, 2018. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Accident Photo (Courtesy of FAA) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.