Narrative:

Slats fail message was received upon selection of flaps 8 degrees. With my first officer flying; I advised ATC of the need to run a checklist for the abnormality. We received vectors to complete the checklist; and upon completion and setup; we proceeded in and landed without further incident. After the fact; I was reviewing the incident and our QRH abnormal procedure for slats fail. I realized I misread the procedure and set up for a flaps 0 degree approach instead. Even though we set up properly and flew a flaps 0 degree approach; we didn't need to. The slats fail abnormal continues on and allows the use of flaps 45 degrees even with slats at 0 degrees. Where I believe the error occurred was when I was distraction with other cockpit duties. While I was distraction; I laid the checklist down while reading the notes in items 4 and 5. When I picked the checklist back up to continue; I returned to item 3 to backtrack and proceed forward. I now believe that when I picked the checklist back up; I was looking at the page for flaps fail. Item 3 says to selected detent position and do not attempt to operate the flaps any further. So I proceeded on through the end of the checklist; bugged reference for flaps 0 degrees and we came around and landed. Upon review; the 2 checklists are as clear as day and I know I did not have any problem understanding them then or now.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CRJ700 Captain reports SLATS FAIL message during approach. While accomplishing SLATS FAIL QRH procedure; reporter drifts into Flaps Fail checklist which results in 0 flap landing unnecessarily.

Narrative: Slats Fail message was received upon selection of flaps 8 degrees. With my First Officer flying; I advised ATC of the need to run a checklist for the abnormality. We received vectors to complete the checklist; and upon completion and setup; we proceeded in and landed without further incident. After the fact; I was reviewing the incident and our QRH Abnormal procedure for slats fail. I realized I misread the procedure and set up for a flaps 0 degree approach instead. Even though we set up properly and flew a flaps 0 degree approach; we didn't need to. The Slats Fail Abnormal continues on and allows the use of flaps 45 degrees even with slats at 0 degrees. Where I believe the error occurred was when I was distraction with other cockpit duties. While I was distraction; I laid the checklist down while reading the notes in items 4 and 5. When I picked the checklist back up to continue; I returned to item 3 to backtrack and proceed forward. I now believe that when I picked the checklist back up; I was looking at the page for Flaps Fail. Item 3 says to selected detent position and do not attempt to operate the flaps any further. So I proceeded on through the end of the checklist; bugged reference for flaps 0 degrees and we came around and landed. Upon review; the 2 checklists are as clear as day and I know I did not have any problem understanding them then or now.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 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.