SMA DEPARTS UNCTLED STRIP INTO MVFR WX.

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REFUELING AT 4M7; NOTICED HYD FLUID LEAKING OUT OF L MAIN GEAR STRUT. SPOKE WITH MECH AT M21 WHO SAID BRING IT TO HIS SHOP IN THE MORNING AND DON'T RAISE GEAR IF STRUT IS FLAT. FLEW HOME (UNCTLED PVT GRASS STRIP) AND HANGARED PLANE OVERNIGHT. WATCHED EVENING NEWS WX. GOT UP EARLY TO TAKE PLANE TO M21 WHERE MECH IS (ABOUT 40 MI AWAY). NICE; BRIGHT; CALM MORNING. GRABBED VFR SECTIONAL; PREFLTED ACFT. STRUT TOTALLY FLAT. DEPARTED HOME AIRFIELD CHANTING 'DON'T RAISE THE GEAR.' AT 900 FT; HIT RAGGED CEILING. AT THIS POINT I SHOULD HAVE COMPLETED A PATTERN AND LANDED; BUT ASSUMED IT WAS THIN LAYER SINCE GOOD WX WAS FORECAST. CONTACTED FORT CAMPBELL APCH (HOME FIELD IS JUST S OF MOA) FOR ADVISORIES AND CLBED TO 3000 FT. FLEW TO BWG (WHICH WAS 9000 FT SCATTERED AND GOT UNDER WHAT WAS NOW A THIN LAYER AND FLEW BACK TO M21 VFR AND LANDED WITHOUT INCIDENT. SO; ALWAYS TAKE IFR CHARTS JUST IN CASE. NEVER TAKE OFF WITHOUT LOOKING AT THE SKY AND CALLING FLT SVC FOR CONDITIONS. I FOCUSED ON DON'T RAISE THE GEAR AND FORGOT EVERYTHING ELSE.