<?xml version="1.0"?>

<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2003-08-03</periodOfReport>


    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000025657</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>CRESTED CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>cbag</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001065873</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>HERRON HAROLD F</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1></rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity></rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState></rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode></rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>1</isOther>
            <officerTitle>President and Chairman</officerTitle>
            <otherText>10% owner thru indirect shares</otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>

        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>$.001 Par Value Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2003-08-03</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>6932</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>

        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>$.001 Par Value Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2003-08-03</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>12024733</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By U.S. Energy</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>

        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>$.001 Par Value Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2003-08-03</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>60000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Plateau</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>

    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Consists of shares held by U.S. Energy Corp. (&quot;USE&quot;), the parent of Crested Corp. (&quot;Crested&quot;).  The Reporting Person is a director and officer of USE and the Reporting Person became an officer and director of the Registraunt as of August 3, 2003.  Pursuant to SEC Rule 16a-1(a)(2), information on USE is not required, however, Registrant has undertaken comprehensive disclosure and reports shares held by USE as indirectly owned by the Reporting Person.  The Reporting Person is not a controlling shareholder and does not have a pecuniary interest in the Crested shares held by USE under Rule 16a-1(a)(2)(iii) and disclaims any beneficial interest in the Crested share held by USE.  This Form 4 is filed only to report change of Reporting Person's status.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Consists of shares held by Plateau Resources Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of USE.  The Reporting Person is a director and officer of Plateau.  Pursuant to SEC Rule 16a-1(a)(2), information on Plateau is not required, however, Registrant has undertaken comprehensive disclosure and reports shares held by Plateau as indirectly owned by the Reporting Person.  The Reporting Person is not a controlling shareholder and does not have a pecuniary interest in the Crested shares held by Plateau under Rule 16a-1(a)(2)(iii) and disclaims any beneficial interest in the Crested shares held by Plateau.</footnote>
    </footnotes>


    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Harold F. Herron</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-08-04</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>
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X0201
4
2003-08-03
0
0000025657
CRESTED CORP
cbag
0001065873
HERRON HAROLD F
1
1
0
1
President and Chairman
10% owner thru indirect shares
$.001 Par Value Common Stock
2003-08-03
4
J
0
0
0
A
6932
D
$.001 Par Value Common Stock
2003-08-03
4
J
0
0
0
A
12024733
I
By U.S. Energy
$.001 Par Value Common Stock
2003-08-03
4
J
0
0
0
A
60000
I
By Plateau
Consists of shares held by U.S. Energy Corp. ("USE"), the parent of Crested Corp. ("Crested").  The Reporting Person is a director and officer of USE and the Reporting Person became an officer and director of the Registraunt as of August 3, 2003.  Pursuant to SEC Rule 16a-1(a)(2), information on USE is not required, however, Registrant has undertaken comprehensive disclosure and reports shares held by USE as indirectly owned by the Reporting Person.  The Reporting Person is not a controlling shareholder and does not have a pecuniary interest in the Crested shares held by USE under Rule 16a-1(a)(2)(iii) and disclaims any beneficial interest in the Crested share held by USE.  This Form 4 is filed only to report change of Reporting Person's status.
Consists of shares held by Plateau Resources Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of USE.  The Reporting Person is a director and officer of Plateau.  Pursuant to SEC Rule 16a-1(a)(2), information on Plateau is not required, however, Registrant has undertaken comprehensive disclosure and reports shares held by Plateau as indirectly owned by the Reporting Person.  The Reporting Person is not a controlling shareholder and does not have a pecuniary interest in the Crested shares held by Plateau under Rule 16a-1(a)(2)(iii) and disclaims any beneficial interest in the Crested shares held by Plateau.
Harold F. Herron
2003-08-04