-----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,
 PflGdgiFvJ2HAgQxJYlxc4z0hZs64tWFcu/3QcqBWksUd9Qvdp7eGKOHpMNAFoME
 QJ+n42xvkge3e77XMtChOA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001181431-03-008149.txt : 20030519
<SEC-HEADER>0001181431-03-008149.hdr.sgml : 20030519
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030519163304
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001181431-03-008149
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030516
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030519

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:			SYMONDS J TAFT
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001063934

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-10454
		FILM NUMBER:		03710736

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		P O BOX 920919
		CITY:			HOUSTON
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			77292-0919
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7136815461

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		P O BOX 920919
		CITY:			HOUSTON
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			77292-0919
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>rrd9204.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
<periodOfReport>2003-05-16</periodOfReport>
<notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000350426</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>PLAINS RESOURCES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>PLX</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer>
<reportingOwner>
<reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001063934</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SYMONDS J TAFT</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>1</isDirector>
<isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
<isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
<isOther>0</isOther>
<officerTitle></officerTitle>
<otherText></otherText></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner>
<nonDerivativeSecurity>
<securityTitle>
<value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle>
<transactionDate>
<value>2003-05-16</value></transactionDate>
<transactionCoding>
<transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
<transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding>
<transactionTimeliness>
<value></value></transactionTimeliness>
<transactionAmounts>
<transactionShares>
<value>10000</value>
<footnoteId id="F2"/></transactionShares>
<transactionValue>
<value>0</value></transactionValue>
<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
<value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts>
<postTransactionAmounts>
<sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
<value>12000</value>
<footnoteId id="F1"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature>
<directOrIndirectOwnership>
<value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership>
<natureOfOwnership>
<value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeSecurity>
<footnotes>
<footnote id="F1">The reporting person also indirectly holds 32,782 shares through Symonds Trust Co., Ltd.</footnote>
<footnote id="F2">Represents Restricted Stock Units granted as part of the annual non-employee director compensation.  These units vest 50% on each of the first two anniversaries of the grant date.</footnote></footnotes>
<ownerSignature>
<signatureName>J. Taft Symonds</signatureName>
<signatureDate>2003-05-19</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>


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