Narrative:

Hya was IFR with a 700 ft scattered to broken layer and 3 mi visibility in mist. As I rotated for takeoff, I noticed noise and breeze in cockpit. I turned to see the baggage door had opened. This occurred as tower authority/authorized frequency change to departure frequency and right turn to 270 degrees. I made left turn into the pattern at 500-600 ft, and called tower. They simultaneously inquired of my intentions. I informed them of open door and requested landing on runway 23. Tower turned inbound flight off of ILS and cleared me SVFR, cleared to land. I did not declare an emergency, but tower responded promptly, cleared incoming traffic, and allowed me to land without incident. However, low clouds required me to fly the pattern at approximately 500 ft to remain visual, a probable far violation. I handled open door problem appropriately due to the many articles I have read about such problems, which advised to relax and fly the plane. I was not concerned about the landing, and tower was helpful by promptly clearing the ILS. (Also had to shut down engines on taxiway to secure door, which appeared to annoy ground.) I thank the controller for responding so professionally and assisting me to do my job.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A MOONEY 20-G HAS TO RETURN LAND AT HYA BECAUSE OF AN OPEN BAGGAGE DOOR THAT HAD OPENED ON TKOF. TWR CLRS TFC OFF ILS FOR MOONEY TO LAND RWY 23.

Narrative: HYA WAS IFR WITH A 700 FT SCATTERED TO BROKEN LAYER AND 3 MI VISIBILITY IN MIST. AS I ROTATED FOR TKOF, I NOTICED NOISE AND BREEZE IN COCKPIT. I TURNED TO SEE THE BAGGAGE DOOR HAD OPENED. THIS OCCURRED AS TWR AUTH FREQ CHANGE TO DEP FREQ AND R TURN TO 270 DEGS. I MADE L TURN INTO THE PATTERN AT 500-600 FT, AND CALLED TWR. THEY SIMULTANEOUSLY INQUIRED OF MY INTENTIONS. I INFORMED THEM OF OPEN DOOR AND REQUESTED LNDG ON RWY 23. TWR TURNED INBOUND FLT OFF OF ILS AND CLRED ME SVFR, CLRED TO LAND. I DID NOT DECLARE AN EMER, BUT TWR RESPONDED PROMPTLY, CLRED INCOMING TFC, AND ALLOWED ME TO LAND WITHOUT INCIDENT. HOWEVER, LOW CLOUDS REQUIRED ME TO FLY THE PATTERN AT APPROX 500 FT TO REMAIN VISUAL, A PROBABLE FAR VIOLATION. I HANDLED OPEN DOOR PROB APPROPRIATELY DUE TO THE MANY ARTICLES I HAVE READ ABOUT SUCH PROBS, WHICH ADVISED TO RELAX AND FLY THE PLANE. I WAS NOT CONCERNED ABOUT THE LNDG, AND TWR WAS HELPFUL BY PROMPTLY CLRING THE ILS. (ALSO HAD TO SHUT DOWN ENGS ON TXWY TO SECURE DOOR, WHICH APPEARED TO ANNOY GND.) I THANK THE CTLR FOR RESPONDING SO PROFESSIONALLY AND ASSISTING ME TO DO MY JOB.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.