<PAGE>   1
                                  UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                                   FORM 10-Q/A
                                 AMENDMENT NO. 1

(Mark One)

[X]   QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES
      EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended           MARCH 31, 1996

                                               or

[ ]   TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT
      OF 1934

For the transition period from                       to

Commission file number                       0-11982

        CORPORATE PROPERTY ASSOCIATES 4, A CALIFORNIA LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

<TABLE>
<S>                                                               <C>
                    CALIFORNIA                                                  13-3126150
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)    (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

50 ROCKEFELLER PLAZA, NEW YORK, NEW YORK                                        10020
(Address of principal executive offices)                                      (Zip Code)
</TABLE>

                                 (212) 492-1100
              (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)


   (Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last
                                    report)


      Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports
required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the
registrant was required to file such reports) and (2) has been subject to such
filing requirements for the past 90 days.

                                                                  [X] Yes [ ] No



                APPLICABLE ONLY TO ISSUERS INVOLVED IN BANKRUPTCY
                  PROCEEDINGS DURING THE PRECEDING FIVE YEARS:

   Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed all documents and
reports required to be filed by Section 12, 13 or 15(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 subsequent to the distribution of securities under a plan
confirmed by a court.

                                                                  [ ] Yes [ ] No
<PAGE>   2
                        CORPORATE PROPERTY ASSOCIATES 4,
                        a California limited partnership






                                      INDEX



                                                                  Page No.
                                                                  --------
 PART I

 Item 1. - Financial Information*

          Balance Sheets, December 31, 1995 and
          March 31, 1996                                              2

          Statements of Income for the three
          months ended March 31, 1995 and 1996                        3

          Statements of Cash Flows for the three
          months ended March 31, 1995 and 1996                        4

          Notes to Financial Statements                              5-7


 Item 2. - Management's Discussion of Operations                      8




 PART II

 Signatures                                                           9






*The summarized financial information contained herein is unaudited; however in
the opinion of management, all adjustments necessary for a fair presentation of
such financial information have been included.


                                      -1-
<PAGE>   3
                        CORPORATE PROPERTY ASSOCIATES 4,
                        a California limited partnership


                                     PART I

                         Item 1. - FINANCIAL INFORMATION

                                 BALANCE SHEETS


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                           December 31,     March 31,
                                              1995            1996
                                             (Note)       (Unaudited)
                                           -----------    -----------
<S>                                        <C>            <C>
      ASSETS:

Land and buildings, net of
   accumulated depreciation of
   $13,362,508 at December 31, 1995 and
   $12,842,758 at March 31, 1996           $21,472,233    $14,222,203
Net investment in direct
   financing leases                         18,224,428     18,217,194
Real estate held for sale                                   6,976,809
Cash and cash equivalents                    7,579,071      7,808,057
Other assets                                 1,232,343      1,297,288
                                           -----------    -----------
        Total assets                       $48,508,075    $48,521,551
                                           ===========    ===========
      LIABILITIES:

Mortgage notes payable                     $19,486,882    $19,256,266
Accrued interest payable                       136,087        132,873
Accounts payable and accrued expenses          435,977        448,105
Accounts payable to affiliates                  87,461         90,780
Prepaid rental income                                          45,600
                                           -----------    -----------
        Total liabilities                   20,146,407     19,973,624
                                           -----------    -----------
      PARTNERS' CAPITAL:

General Partners                                62,061         74,177

Limited Partners (85,568 Limited
Partnership Units issued and
outstanding)                                28,299,607     28,473,750
                                           -----------    -----------
        Total partners' capital             28,361,668     28,547,927
                                           -----------    -----------
        Total liabilities and
          partners' capital                $48,508,075    $48,521,551
                                           ===========    ===========
</TABLE>

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.


Note: The balance sheet at December 31, 1995 has been derived from the audited
      financial statements at that date.


                                      -2-
<PAGE>   4
                        CORPORATE PROPERTY ASSOCIATES 4,
                        a California limited partnership




                        STATEMENTS OF INCOME (UNAUDITED)



<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                             Three Months Ended
                                                      March 31, 1995      March 31, 1996
                                                      --------------      --------------
<S>                                                   <C>                 <C>
Revenues:
  Rental income from operating leases                   $  808,127          $  835,341
  Interest income from direct financing leases           1,353,017             828,134
  Other interest income                                     26,658              95,356
  Revenue from hotel operations                            996,893           1,024,083
  Other income                                              42,792
                                                        ----------          ----------
                                                         3,227,487           2,782,914
                                                        ----------          ----------
Expenses:
  Interest on mortgages                                    594,519             435,472
  Depreciation                                             289,009             276,615
  General and administrative                               140,263              90,888
  Property expenses                                         93,130              67,060
  Operating expenses of hotel operations                   589,468             591,290
  Amortization                                              31,150              25,767
                                                        ----------          ----------
                                                         1,737,539           1,487,092
                                                        ----------          ----------
     Net income                                         $1,489,948          $1,295,822
                                                        ==========          ==========
Net income allocated to
  General Partners                                      $   89,397          $   77,749
                                                        ==========          ==========
Net income allocated to
  Limited Partners                                      $1,400,551          $1,218,073
                                                        ==========          ==========
Net income per Unit
  (85,568 Limited
  Partnership Units)                                    $    16.37          $    14.24
                                                        ==========          ==========
</TABLE>

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.


                                      -3-
<PAGE>   5
                        CORPORATE PROPERTY ASSOCIATES 4,
                        a California limited partnership




                      STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (UNAUDITED)



<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                    Three Months Ended
                                                                         March 31,
                                                               ---------------------------
                                                                   1995            1996
                                                               -----------     -----------
<S>                                                            <C>             <C>
Cash flows from operating activities:
  Net income                                                   $ 1,489,948     $ 1,295,822
  Adjustments to reconcile net income to net
    cash provided by operating activities:
    Depreciation and amortization                                  320,159         302,382
    Other noncash items                                              3,152           2,803
    Net change in operating assets and liabilities                (245,542)        (28,448)
                                                               -----------     -----------
     Net cash provided by operating activities                   1,567,717       1,572,559
                                                               -----------     -----------
Cash flows from investing activities:
  Additional capitalized costs                                     (15,936)         (3,394)
                                                               -----------     -----------
     Net cash used in investing activities                         (15,936)         (3,394)
                                                               -----------     -----------
Cash flows from financing activities:
  Distributions to partners                                     (1,222,530)     (1,109,563)
  Payments on mortgage principal                                  (332,794)       (230,616)
                                                               -----------     -----------
     Net cash used in financing activities                      (1,555,324)     (1,340,179)
                                                               -----------     -----------
       Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents         (3,543)        228,986

    Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period               2,509,451       7,579,071
                                                               -----------     -----------
       Cash and cash equivalents, end of period                $ 2,505,908     $ 7,808,057
                                                               ===========     ===========
Supplemental disclosure of cash flows information:

         Interest paid                                         $   599,340     $   438,686
                                                               ===========     ===========
</TABLE>

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.


                                      -4-
<PAGE>   6
                        CORPORATE PROPERTY ASSOCIATES 4,
                        a California limited partnership



                    NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)


Note 1.  Basis of Presentation:

The accompanying unaudited financial statements have been prepared in accordance
with generally accepted accounting principles for interim financial information
and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Rule 10-01 of Regulation S-X.
Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required
by generally accepted accounting principles for complete financial statements.
In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring
accruals) considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included. For
further information, refer to the financial statements and footnotes thereto
included in the Partnership's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
December 31, 1995.


Note 2.  Distributions to Partners:

Distributions declared and paid to partners during the three months ended March
31, 1996 are summarized as follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
  Quarter Ended      General Partners    Limited Partners    Per Limited Partner Unit
  -------------      ----------------    ----------------    ------------------------
<S>                  <C>                 <C>                 <C>
December 31, 1995        $65,633            $1,043,930                $12.20
                         =======            ==========                ======
</TABLE>

A distribution of $12.22 per Limited Partner Unit for the quarter ended March
31, 1996 was declared and paid in April 1996.

Note 3.  Transactions with Related Parties:

For the three-month periods ended March 31, 1995 and 1996, the Partnership
incurred management fees of $27,003 and $22,024, respectively, and general and
administrative expense reimbursements of $32,340 and $22,941, respectively,
payable to an affiliate.

The Partnership, in conjunction with certain affiliates, is a participant in a
cost sharing agreement for the purpose of renting and occupying office space.
Under the agreement, the Partnership pays its proportionate share of rent and
other costs of occupancy. Net expenses incurred for the three months ended March
31, 1995 and 1996 were $44,386 and $18,412, respectively.


                                      -5-
<PAGE>   7
                        CORPORATE PROPERTY ASSOCIATES 4,
                        a California limited partnership



             NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED) - (CONTINUED)




Note 4.  Industry Segment Information:

The Partnership's operations consist of the investment in and the leasing of
industrial and commercial real estate and operation of a hotel business (see
Note 5). For the three-month periods ended March 31, 1995 and 1996, the
Partnership earned its total lease revenues (rental income plus interest income
from financing leases) from the following lease obligors:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                        1995       %            1996        %
                                        ----      ---           ----       ---
<S>                                 <C>           <C>        <C>           <C>
Simplicity Manufacturing, Inc.      $  499,178     23%       $  499,178     30%
Hughes Markets, Inc.                   357,355     17           378,797     23
Brodart Co.                            330,085     15           328,956     20
Continental Casualty Company           185,727      9           189,962     11
Family Dollar Stores, Inc.             136,800      6           136,800      8
Petrocon Engineering, Inc.              92,066      4            93,604      6
Winn-Dixie Stores, Inc.                 36,178      2            36,178      2
Genesco, Inc.                          523,755     24
                                    ----------    ---        ----------    ---
                                    $2,161,144    100%       $1,663,475    100%
                                    ==========    ===        ==========    ===
</TABLE>

Note 5.  Hotel Property in Kenner, Louisiana:

The Partnership and Corporate Property Associates 8 ("CPA(R):8"), an affiliate,
own a hotel property in Kenner, Louisiana as tenants-in-common with 46.383% and
53.617% interests, respectively. On April 17, 1996, the Investment Committee of
the Corporate General Partners of the Partnership and CPA(R):8 approved a
proposal to transfer ownership of the hotel property to the operating
partnership of a newly-formed real estate investment trust formed by an
affiliate of American General Hospitality Corp. ("AGH"), the hotel management
company which is currently engaged by the Partnership and CPA(R):8, to manage
the hotel property. In exchange for the contribution of the hotel to the
operating partnership, the Partnership and CPA(R):8 will receive an equity
interest in the operating partnership with an expected initial value of
approximately $18,000,000, of which the Partnership's share would be
approximately $8,350,000. In addition, the operating partnership will assume the
existing loan obligation on the property of approximately $7,365,000, of which
the Partnership's share is currently approximately $3,415,000. The value of the
consideration received by the Partnership and CPA(R):8 will be dependent upon
the price of the stock issued by AGH in its initial public offering. The
Partnership and CPA(R):8 purchased the property in June 1988 (of which the
Partnership contributed equity of approximately $3,480,000) including
$10,000,000 of mortgage financing, and assumed operating control of the hotel in
1992 when they evicted the lessee due to its financial difficulties.

The exchange transaction is subject to the ability of AGH to complete an initial
public offering for the newly-formed real estate investment trust. It is
intended that the exchange of the hotel property for securities initially be
treated as a nonmonetary exchange for tax and financial reporting purposes and
that the Partnership retain the funds included in the hotel furniture, fixture
and equipment reserves. After one year, the Partnership will have the right to
convert its equity interest in the operating partnership to shares of the
publicly-traded real estate investment trust. The Partnership does not
anticipate incurring any significant costs in connection with completing the
proposed exchange. In connection with the proposed transaction, the $6,976,809
carrying value of the hotel property has been reclassified as real estate held
for sale.


                                      -6-
<PAGE>   8
                        CORPORATE PROPERTY ASSOCIATES 4,
                        a California limited partnership



             NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED) - (CONTINUED)




Operating results of the hotel for the three-month periods ended March 31, 1995
and 1996 are summarized as follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                        1995                    1996
                                     ---------               ----------
<S>                                  <C>                     <C>
Revenues                             $ 996,893               $1,024,083
Fees paid to hotel management
   company                            ( 36,425)                 (39,005)
Other operating expenses              (553,043)                (552,285)
                                     ---------               ----------
Hotel operating income               $ 407,425               $  432,793
                                     =========               ==========
</TABLE>

Note 6.  Property Leased to Hughes Markets, Inc.:

The Partnership and Corporate Property Associates 3 ("CPA(R):3"), an affiliate,
own a dairy processing facility in Los Angeles, California as tenants-in-common
with 16.76% and 83.24% ownership interests, respectively. On May 1, 1996, the
Partnership and CPA(R):3 entered into a lease amendment agreement with the
lessee, Hughes Markets, Inc. ("Hughes"), to extend the lease term from April 30,
1996 to April 30, 1998. Under the extension agreement, monthly rent will
increase to $336,166 (of which the Partnership's share will be $279,824) from
$151,686 (of which the Partnership's share was $126,266). At the end of the
two-year period, Hughes will make a lump sum payment of $3,500,000 (of which the
Partnership's share will be approximately $2,910,000). Hughes is obligated to
provide the Partnership and CPA(R):3 a letter of credit, cash deposit or other
form of security acceptable at the Partnership and CPA(R):3's sole discretion to
ensure payment of the $3,500,000. Hughes may extend the lease on a
month-to-month basis for up to six months at a rental of $500,000 per month.


                                      -7-
<PAGE>   9
                        CORPORATE PROPERTY ASSOCIATES 4,
                        a California limited partnership

                 Item 2. - MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION OF OPERATIONS



Results of Operations:

    Net income decreased by $194,000 for the three-month period ended March 31,
1996 as compared with the same period ended March 31, 1995. The decreases were
due to the sale of a property leased to Genesco, Inc. ("Genesco") in June 1995.
Earnings from the Genesco property, consisting of rentals less interest on the
limited recourse loan collateralized by the Genesco properties and other costs
directly attributable to the Genesco property, contributed approximately
$380,000 to the results of operations for the three-month period ended March 31,
1995. Excluding the earnings from Genesco and certain nonrecurring other income
in 1995 of $42,800, income from comparable continuing operations would have
increased by $203,000, an increase of approximately 30%. Of such increase,
$68,000 was due to an increase in other interest income reflecting higher
average cash balances and moderate decreases in interest, general and
administrative and property expenses. The decrease in interest expense of
$26,000 (net of $133,000 of interest incurred on the Genesco property mortgage
loan in 1995) was due to the continuing amortization of the Partnership's
mortgage loans. General and administrative expenses benefited, in part, from an
expected decrease in the Partnership's share of office expenses. The decrease in
property expense was due to several factors, none of which were significant.
Excluding the rent from Genesco, lease revenues increased modestly, primarily
due to an increase of the Hughes Markets, Inc. ("Hughes") rent in the fourth
quarter of 1995.

    Income from the hotel operation, which the Partnership has made formal plans
to exchange for an investment, as described below, increased by 6%. The increase
was entirely due to an increase in revenues as hotel operating expenses were
unchanged for the comparable periods. The hotel realized the revenue increase
even though the occupancy rate for the quarter decreased by 2%. Higher average
room rates were realized as a result of the hotel's ability to increase rates
and changes in usage. In 1996, corporate rates represented 39% of available
rooms versus 34% in 1995, while group business decreased to 11% from 19% of
available rooms. This change in usage was beneficial to earnings as the average
room rate for corporate business is substantially higher than the rates
negotiated by groups and associations.

    The Partnership's lease with Hughes for the dairy processing plant in Los
Angeles, California has been extended through April 30, 1998. Annual cash flow
will increase by $1,843,000 during the two-year extension. In addition, the
Partnership will receive a lump sum payment of approximately $2,910,000 at the
end of the two-year period.

Financial Condition:

    There has been no material change in the Partnership's financial condition
since December 31, 1995. Cash flow from operations was sufficient to fund
payments of distributions to partners and scheduled principal payments on the
Partnership's mortgage debt. If the exchange of the Kenner, Louisiana hotel
property and related assumption of the mortgage loan obligation for equity
interests in the operating partnership of a real estate investment trust is
completed, the Partnership would expect to receive a relatively stable cash flow
from such investment as the objective of the real estate investment trust and
the underlying partnership is to distribute at least 95% of its taxable income
so that it can maintain its tax status as a real estate investment trust. With
this investment, the Partnership will eliminate the uncertainty related to
operating a hotel business with a single hotel and replace such uncertainty with
a stable cash flow from the operating partnership's distributions which comprise
of the operation of many hotels which are initially estimated to be
approximately $700,000 annually. Although cash flow from the hotel operations
when combined with debt service on the property mortgage was approximately
$1,024,000 in 1995, the Partnership funded improvements of nearly $1,000,000 in
the prior year. Funding major capital improvements at the hotel property is
needed to remain competitive; therefore, if ownership of the hotel were
retained, the Partnership would be required to use funds for additional
improvements in the future. Accordingly, cash flow from the hotel could vary
significantly from year to year. The Partnership had operated the hotel since
1992, subsequent to evicting the lessee. At that time, the Partnership's
objectives were to generate positive cash flow from the hotel operation and
enhance the underlying property value. If the proposed transaction is
consummated, the Partnership may realize these objectives.


                                      -8-
<PAGE>   10
                        CORPORATE PROPERTY ASSOCIATES 4,
                        a California limited partnership


                                     PART II



                                   SIGNATURES





      Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned thereunto duly authorized.


                                  CORPORATE PROPERTY ASSOCIATES 4,
                                  a California limited partnership



                                  By:  CAREY CORPORATE PROPERTY, INC.




         4/10/97                  By:      /s/ Claude Fernandez
       -----------                        -----------------------------
           Date                           Claude Fernandez
                                          Executive Vice President and
                                          Chief Administrative Officer
                                          (Principal Financial Officer)





         4/10/97                  By:      /s/ Michael D. Roberts
       -----------                        -----------------------------
           Date                           Michael D. Roberts
                                          First Vice President and Controller
                                          (Principal Accounting Officer)


                                      -9-