-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 OL8cdq5ghgTnoJXuSg3mIelHKRv2zxYpHbAwtlL2l+mjJvBAUShy+dqBboO9mavZ
 8A0b/a8jnlPL8rO9UvPmHg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001181431-03-007976.txt : 20030516
<SEC-HEADER>0001181431-03-007976.hdr.sgml : 20030516
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030516161943
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001181431-03-007976
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030508
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030516

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			PLAINS RESOURCES INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000350426
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	WHOLESALE-PETROLEUM & PETROLEUM PRODUCTS (NO BULK STATIONS) [5172]
		IRS NUMBER:				132898764
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		500 DALLAS
		STREET 2:		STE 700
		CITY:			HOUSTON
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			77002
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7136541414

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1600 SMITH STREET
		STREET 2:		SUITE 1500
		CITY:			HOUSTON
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			77002

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			FLORES JAMES C
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000939485

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-10454
		FILM NUMBER:		03708762

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1001 FANNIN
		STREET 2:		SUITE 1600
		CITY:			HOUSTON
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			77002
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7132656000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1001 FANNIN
		STREET 2:		SUITE 1600
		CITY:			HOUSTON
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			77002
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>rrd8675.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>

<documentType>4</documentType>
<periodOfReport>2003-05-08</periodOfReport>
<notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
<issuer><issuerCik>0000350426</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>PLAINS RESOURCES INC</issuerName>
<issuerTradingSymbol>PLX</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer>
<reportingOwner>
<reportingOwnerId>
<rptOwnerCik>0000939485</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>FLORES JAMES C</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
<reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>1</isDirector>
<isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
<isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
<isOther>0</isOther>
<officerTitle>Chairman of the Board</officerTitle>
<otherText></otherText></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner>
<nonDerivativeSecurity>
<securityTitle>
<value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle>
<transactionDate>
<value>2003-05-08</value></transactionDate>
<transactionCoding>
<transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
<transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding>
<transactionTimeliness>
<value></value></transactionTimeliness>
<transactionAmounts>
<transactionShares>
<value>16625</value>
<footnoteId id="F1"/></transactionShares>
<transactionValue>
<value>12.03</value></transactionValue>
<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
<value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts>
<postTransactionAmounts>
<sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
<value>104132</value>
<footnoteId id="F2"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature>
<directOrIndirectOwnership>
<value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership>
<natureOfOwnership>
<value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeSecurity>
<footnotes>
<footnote id="F1">On May 8, 2001, Mr. Flores was granted shares with a value equal to $1,000,000.  That grant is payable in five equal installments on each anniversary thereof as a direct share grant.  This grant represents the second installment.</footnote>
<footnote id="F2">The reporting person also indirectly holds 1,000,000 shares through Stable Management, L.P. and 221 shares through the issuer&apos;s 401(k) Plan.</footnote></footnotes>
<ownerSignature>
<signatureName>James C. Flores, Chairman of the Board</signatureName>
<signatureDate>2003-05-16</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>


</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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