<PAGE>   1

                                 UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                            WASHINGTON, D.C.  20549

                                   FORM 10-Q

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

               For the quarterly period ended September 30, 1996

                                       or

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

                For the transition period from        to
                                              --------  --------

                         COMMISSION FILE NO. 033-90480

                      MEWBOURNE ENERGY PARTNERS 96-A, L.P.
                      ------------------------------------


         Delaware                                          75-2646003        
-------------------------                              ------------------    
(State or jurisdiction of                               (I.R.S. Employer     
incorporation or organization)                        Identification Number) 
                                                                             
3901 South Broadway, Tyler, Texas                                75701       
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Address of principal executive offices)                       (Zip Code)    
                        


Registrant's Telephone Number, including area code:(903) 561-2900

                                 Not Applicable
                                 --------------
            (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



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                    MEWBOURNE ENERGY PARTNERS 96-A, L. P.

                       Part I - Financial Information


ITEM 1.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS



                                 BALANCE SHEET
                               September 30, 1996
                                  (Unaudited)



<TABLE>
<S>                                           <C>
ASSETS                                        
------                                        
                                              
Cash                                          $ 100 
                                              ----- 
                                                    
Total assets                                  $ 100 
                                              ===== 
                                                    
                                                    
                                                    
PARTNERS' CAPITAL                                   
-----------------                                   
                                                    
                                                    
Partners' capital                             $ 100 
                                              ----- 
                                                    
Total Partners' capital                       $ 100 
                                              ===== 
</TABLE>                                            





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




                                       2
<PAGE>   3
                     MEWBOURNE ENERGY PARTNERS 96-A, L. P.



                         STATEMENT OF PARTNERS' CAPITAL
               for the period April 11, 1996 (date of inception)
                           through September 30, 1996
                                  (Unaudited)



<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                    Limited  &  Managing
                                    General     General
                                    Partners    Partner      Total  
                                    --------    -------    ---------
<S>                                 <C>          <C>         <C>     
Partners' capital at April 11,                                       
1996 (date of organization)         $  -         $  -        $  -    
                                                                     
Contributions                       $ 100        $  -        $ 100   
                                    -----        ----        -----   
                                                                     
Partners' capital at                                                 
  September 30, 1996                $ 100        $  -        $ 100   
                                    =====        ====        =====   
</TABLE>                                              
                                                 




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




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<PAGE>   4

                     MEWBOURNE ENERGY PARTNERS 96-A, L. P.




                            STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
               for the period April 11, 1996 (date of inception)
                           through September 30, 1996
                                  (Unaudited)





<TABLE>
<S>                                                       <C>
Cash flows from financing activities:

  Capital contributions from partners                     $ 100 
                                                          -----

Cash, end of period                                       $ 100 
                                                          =====
</TABLE>





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

                                       4
<PAGE>   5


                      MEWBOURNE ENERGY PARTNERS 96-A, L.P.


                         NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                                  (Unaudited)


1.       The financial statements reflect all adjustments which are, in the
         opinion of management, necessary for a fair statement of results.  All
         adjustments are of a normal recurring nature.

2.       Mewbourne Energy Partners 96-A, L.P. (the "Registrant") was formed
         April 11, 1996.  On September 30, 1996, the only financial activity
         that had occurred was the receipt of the Organizational Partner's
         contribution of $100.00.  The offering of limited and general
         partnership interest began on June 27, 1996.  As of November 6, 1996,
         interests aggregating  $3,394,000 had been sold to 137 subscribers of
         which $3,151,000 were sold to 126 subscribers as general partners
         interests and $243,000 were sold to 11 subscribers as limited partners
         interests.

3.       From the period commencing April 11, 1996 to September 30,   1996, the
         Registrant conducted no business activity. Therefore, there are no
         items of income or expense for the reporting period, and a statement
         of income is not provided.





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<PAGE>   6

ITEM 2.  MANAGEMENTS'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND 
                            RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Mewbourne Energy Partners 96-A, L.P. was formed April 11, 1996.  Mewbourne
Development Corporation is the Managing Partner, and has the power and
authority to manage, control and administer all partnership affairs.  On
September 30, 1996, the only financial activity which had occurred was the
receipt of the Organizational Partner's contribution of $100.00.  The offering
of limited and general partnership interest began on June 27, 1996.  As of
November 6, 1996, interests aggregating  $3,394,000 had been sold to 137
subscribers of which $3,151,000 were sold to 126 subscribers as general
partners  interests and $243,000 were sold to 11 subscribers as limited
partners interests.



RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

The Registrant had not commenced operations prior to the period ending
September 30, 1996, therefore, no trend analysis based on quarterly changes in
results of operations is available.


LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

The Registrant was formed on April 11, 1996, and the Organizational Partner
contributed $100.00 in cash to the Registrants's capital.  During the period
after formation that ended September 30, 1996, there was no increase in cash
and there were no distributions to partners.




                          Part II - Other Information

ITEM 6.     EXHIBITS AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K

     (a)    Exhibits - 27 Financial Data Schedule

     (b)    Reports on Form 8-K - none



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<PAGE>   7
                                   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.




                                   MEWBOURNE ENERGY PARTNERS 96-A, L.P.      
                                                                             
                                       By: Mewbourne Development Corporation 
                                           Managing General Partner          
                                                                             
                                                                             
                                                                             
                                                                             
Date:  November 6, 1996                  By:     /s/ J. ROE BUCKLEY
                                             --------------------------      
                                             J. Roe Buckley, Treasurer         
                                             and Chief Financial Officer       
                                                                             
                                                                             
                                   



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<PAGE>   8

                              INDEX TO EXHIBITS



<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
EXHIBIT
NUMBER                   DESCRIPTION
-------                  -----------
<S>           <C>
  27          -  Financial Data Schedule

</TABLE>