On June 9, 1998, about 2030 Alaska daylight time, a float equipped Cessna 185 airplane, N2902Q, sustained substantial damage while step taxiing at a remote lake located about 10 miles north of Skwentna, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) personal flight under Title 14 CFR Part 91 when the accident occurred. The certificated private pilot/airplane owner and the one passenger aboard were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated at Seymour Lake, Wasilla, about 1430. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board investigator-in-charge on June 10, the pilot reported that he was step taxiing to the west in preparation for a departure to the south. The pilot noted that after the airplane passed beyond an area of shoreline that was protecting the airplane from a left crosswind, a sudden gust of wind lifted the left wing. The right wing struck the water, pivoted the airplane to the right, and the left wing struck the water. The right and left wings sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported that wind conditions at the time of the accident were from varying directions with peak gusts to 10 knots.