Daredevil “Mad” Mike Hughes, probably best known for his homemade rocket launch near the Route 66 town of Amboy, California, two years ago, died in a rocket crash Saturday near Barstow after its parachute apparently separated from the craft after liftoff.
Hughes, who resided in Apple Valley, California, was 64.
The San Bernardino County Sun said the Science Channel, which was working with Hughes on a “Homemade Astronauts” production, TMZ and a Hughes colleague reported his death.
A video posted on Twitter shows a parachute separating from the rocket just after launch and then moments later, the rocket falling from hundreds of feet nose-down.
“Michael ‘Mad Mike’ Hughes tragically passed away today during an attempt to launch his homemade rocket. Our thoughts & prayers go out to his family & friends during this difficult time. It was always his dream to do this launch & Science Channel was there to chronicle his journey,” a Science Channel post on Twitter said.
Waldo Stakes, a colleague who was at the rocket launch, also said Hughes was killed.
“It was unsuccessful, and he passed away,” Stakes said. He declined further comment. […]
The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department said that about 1:50 p.m., deputies were called to an event on private property off Highway 247 near Barstow, where a man was pronounced dead after the crash.
Here’s the tweet from the Science Channel reporting Hughes’ death:
Michael ‘Mad Mike’ Hughes tragically passed away today during an attempt to launch his homemade rocket. Our thoughts & prayers go out to his family & friends during this difficult time. It was always his dream to do this launch & Science Channel was there to chronicle his journey pic.twitter.com/GxwjpVf2md
— Science Channel (@ScienceChannel) February 23, 2020
Chapman also posted a video of the fatal launch on Twitter:
Mad Mike Hughes just launched himself in a self-made steam-powered rocket and crash landed. Very likely did not survive. #MadMike #MadMikeHughes pic.twitter.com/svtviTEi8f
— Justin Chapman (@justindchapman) February 22, 2020
The Sun reported the Federal Aviation Administration wasn’t involved in the crash investigation, saying Hughes’ previous rocket flights weren’t part of its regulatory authority.
In March 2018 after weeks of delays, Hughes launched a homemade rocket more than 1,800 feet into the air near Amboy. Hughes had to use two parachutes before coming back to earth, and the landing still was rough enough that it left him with a sore back.
The Amboy launch was a bizarre attempt to prove the Earth is flat. One of Hughes’ main sponsors was Research Flat Earth.
That isn’t the first time Hughes tried to blast himself into the skies. Another launch in Arizona in 2014 went more than 1,300 feet. He needed three days to recover because of the G-forces.
Amboy owner Albert Okura, who owns the Juan Pollo restaurant chain in Southern California, signed off on the 2018 launch. He bought Amboy — most famous for its historic Roy’s restaurant, gas station and motel — in 2005. Roy’s motel remains closed, but the gas station reopened, and the restaurant serves as a convenience store.
(Image of “Mad” Mike Hughes in 2018 via Facebook)
That’s a shame. As crazy enough stunts as they were, at least he died doing what he loved to do. RIP Mike.
Of course he was encouraged by the flat-Earth morons and the Science Channel.
I seriously hope nobody is inspired or encouraged to follow in his footsteps.