CRJ700 crew had an EICAS 'slats fail' message when they extended the flaps.

Attributes
ACN	630309
Time
Date	200409
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : zzz.airport
State Reference	US
Altitude	msl single value : 6000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : zzz.tracon tower : zzz.tower tower : liml.tower
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Regional Jet 700 ER&LR
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	descent : intermediate altitude descent : approach
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 158 flight time total : 10000 flight time type : 5000
ASRS Report	630309
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : eicas slats fail caution message other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : landed in emergency condition flight crew : declared emergency other
Consequence	other other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

On approach, approximately 10 mi from ZZZ airport, speed 210 KTS selected, flaps 1 degree and slats fail caution message came on. I asked the first officer to pull out the QRH and run the procedure. I asked ATC to provide vectors to the north while we worked the problem. After the QRH procedures, we briefed the flight attendant and passenger. We then declared an emergency with ATC for the landing and advised them we were ready to return for landing. The landing was uneventful and the passenger asked very few questions.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CRJ700 CREW HAD AN EICAS 'SLATS FAIL' MESSAGE WHEN THEY EXTENDED THE FLAPS.

Narrative: ON APCH, APPROX 10 MI FROM ZZZ ARPT, SPD 210 KTS SELECTED, FLAPS 1 DEG AND SLATS FAIL CAUTION MESSAGE CAME ON. I ASKED THE FO TO PULL OUT THE QRH AND RUN THE PROC. I ASKED ATC TO PROVIDE VECTORS TO THE N WHILE WE WORKED THE PROB. AFTER THE QRH PROCS, WE BRIEFED THE FLT ATTENDANT AND PAX. WE THEN DECLARED AN EMER WITH ATC FOR THE LNDG AND ADVISED THEM WE WERE READY TO RETURN FOR LNDG. THE LNDG WAS UNEVENTFUL AND THE PAX ASKED VERY FEW QUESTIONS.

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.