CLEARWATER, Fla. (CBS12) – A plane that departed from Vero Beach crashed on Thursday night before it could land at an airport in Clearwater. The Clearwater Fire & Rescue Department (CFRD) said at around 7:08 p.m. units received reports of a small plane crash at the Bayside Waters community, just south of Clearwater Mall. Crews arrived at the scene at 7:15 p.m. to assist.