I am adding this section so I can put in some missed approach stories that might help others. I very much like that short flight from Quito to Cuenca and back. Both airports are at high altitude so gives me a take off and landing with some challenges and terrain to avoid.

Tonight I decided to get the STAR for Cuenca correct this time. The PIRCA arrival is what I use when flying from the north. So followed the chart with great decent and distance on my flying. I was excited this time to get the approach correct. However I had looked at the Descent 2 chart and thought in my mind that the start of the ILS was at the CUV VOR but did not look close enough to see my mistake. If I arrive at the VOR hoping to land I would need to be about 10,000 ft and not 15,000 as shown in the PIRCA arrival.

Anyhow I looked in my chart file and found out the correct approach from the PIRCA STAR would be Descent 5 using the DME arc to position correct for the ILS.

I just wanted to point out my error as likely others have all been in a hurry and picked the wrong chart or used the charts as if they were to scale. For me I am going to take care and make sure I get this correct on the next flight. It was raining tonight and so needed instruments for this flight.

I like Cuenca because every time I arrive or leave at that airport it teaches me a lesson to be a better pilot. Perhaps some day I will visit in person that city…it seems rather beautiful.

It is quite normal to pick-up the wrong chart. That's the reason in real life they make the approach briefing before descent so during the briefing they can order the chart and in case they select the wrong one the pilot job is to make notice the mistake each other.

The trick is to prepare the charts when you are straight and level otherwise if you do when you are doing the approach you may confuse yourself.

Cheers