Date: 201507
Local time of day: 0601-1200
Location: ZZZ.Airport, US
Flight conditions: VMC
Light: Daylight
Aircraft: Regional Jet 700 ER/LR (CRJ700)
Operator: Air Carrier
Operating under: Part 121
Flight plan: IFR
Mission: Passenger
Flight phase: Takeoff / Launch
ATC / advisory: Tower ZZZ
Aircraft component: Flap Control (Trailing & Leading Edge)
Component problem: Improperly Operated
Reporter organization: Air Carrier
Reporter function: Captain; Pilot Flying
Reporter qualification: Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Human factors: Other / Unknown; Situational Awareness
Anomaly: Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural FAR; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Detector: Person Flight Crew
When detected: In-flight
Result: Flight Crew Became Reoriented; Flight Crew Rejected Takeoff
Contributing factors: Human Factors
Primary problem: Human Factors

Narrative: During the take-off roll we received a 'Takeoff Config' message.  I executed a rejected take-off.  When the message popped up; my First Officer (FO) instinctively reached down to the flap lever and selected Flaps 8; so I don't know for sure where they were set when we initiated the take-off.  In my mind; I was absolutely sure that I observed them set to Flaps 8 during the taxi check.  My FO was unsure of where they were set; but he felt that they were probably at Flaps 0.I believe the root cause was inattention during checklists.  The more time I accrue as a crew member; I find the repetitive nature of the job makes it easy to just produce rote answers to checklists without actually verifying the indication.  I feel as if this was the chief factor at play here.  I failed to visually confirm the 'Takeoff Config OK' message on ED2 during the 'Before Takeoff Above The Line'.  I also may have failed to confirm the flap setting during the taxi check.  During the taxi check; I usually visually confirm the flap setting on ED1; and cross check it with the ACARS performance data.  I feel very strongly that I verified the flap setting during the Taxi check; but it seems incongruent with the flaps being up for take-off.  Perhaps I just verified the Flaps 8 on the ACARS data; and somehow omitted checking ED1.In the future; I have to get back in the habit of making sure that I am visually identifying settings/status before replying to checklists.  I also need to start counting the verifications when responding to the Taxi check; and the Before Takeoff Check 'above the line'.  In other words; when doing the taxi check I need to count two verifications; the flap setting on ED1; as well as confirming that flap setting on the ACARS performance. During the Before Takeoff Check; I need to count three green messages on ED2 prior to taking the active runway.I did have one past experience in the CRJ-200 when my FO was reaching for the TOLD cards as they lay on top of the 'speed cards' and he inadvertently selected the flaps from 20 to 8.  Since then I usually put the TOLD cards directly in front the thrust levers; to help avoid that same issue.  That could have happened in this instance; but my FO didn't feel that was the case in this particular incident.In the end; I need to reset my mind each leg; and try to look at it with fresh eyes.  Honestly; I feel that the new SOP coming out will be a blessing.  I look forward to a new document; with different procedures and formatting; because I think it will feel fresh in my mind; which is a good thing.




Synopsis: CRJ700 Captain experiences a takeoff warning due to takeoff configuration and rejects the takeoff. The First Officer selected flaps 8 for the reject and believes they were up when the takeoff roll was initiated.