Incident Details
A commercial certificated pilot/flight instructor was conducting a local area instructional flight with a private certificated pilot/dual student in a float-equipped airplane. The airplane was owned by the student, and the flight was the second day of instruction to gain additional experience operating on lakes and rivers in Alaska.
After departure on the training flight, the student proceeded to land on a creek. Following touchdown on the creek in a northbound direction, the airplane was decelerating with the water rudders in the up position. The airplane suddenly veered to the right, and the floats collided with the creek bank. The left wing of the airplane collided with trees along the bank, and the propeller struck the bank.
Pilot Statements
The student reported that he thought the right float struck an unseen sand bar. The flight instructor reported that he was providing dual instruction to the already certificated student pilot and did not know the reason why the airplane veered to the right.