FORM 10-Q


                    SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                          WASHINGTON, D.C.  20549

(Mark One)

(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 PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)
     OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from ________________ to ________________

Commission file number 0-17707


               Southwest Oil & Gas Income Fund VIII-A, L.P.
                  (Exact name of registrant as specified
                   in its limited partnership agreement)

Delaware                                           75-2220097    
(State or other jurisdiction of                (I.R.S. Employer  
incorporation or organization)                Identification No.)


                       407 N. Big Spring, Suite 300
                           Midland, Texas 79701          
                 (Address of principal executive offices)

                              (915) 686-9927         
                      (Registrant's telephone number,
                           including area code)

Indicate by check mark whether 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:

                            Yes   X   No      

         The total number of pages contained in this report is 14.

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                      PART I. - FINANCIAL INFORMATION


Item 1. Financial Statements

The unaudited condensed financial statements included herein have been
prepared by the Registrant (herein also referred to as the "Partnership") 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
necessary for a fair presentation have been included and are of a normal
recurring nature.  The financial statements should be read in conjunction
with the audited financial statements and the notes thereto for the year
ended December 31, 1995 which are found in the Registrant's Form 10-K Report
for 1995 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.  The December 31,
1995 balance sheet included herein has been taken from the Registrant's 1995
Form 10-K Report.  Operating results for the three and nine month periods
ended September 30, 1996 are not necessarily indicative of the results that
may be expected for the full year.

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               Southwest Oil & Gas Income Fund VIII-A, L.P.

                              Balance Sheets


                                               September 30,   December 31,
                                                   1996            1995  
                                               -------------   ------------
                                                (unaudited)

     Assets

Current assets:
  Cash and cash equivalents                  $     31,628          38,356
  Receivable from Managing 
   General Partner                                169,631         147,157
                                                ---------       ---------
      Total current assets                        201,259         185,513
                                                ---------       ---------
Oil and gas properties - using the
 full cost method of accounting                 5,453,088       5,501,878
Less accumulated depreciation, 
 depletion and amortization                     4,052,109       3,925,109
                                                ---------       ---------
      Net oil and gas properties                1,400,979       1,576,769
                                                ---------       ---------
                                             $  1,602,238       1,762,282
                                                =========       =========
     Liabilities and Partners' Equity

Current liability - Distributions payable    $        869             536
                                                ---------       ---------
Partners' equity:                            
  General partners                                 16,676          18,943
  Limited partners                              1,584,693       1,742,803
                                                ---------       ---------
      Total partners' equity                    1,601,369       1,761,746
                                                ---------       ---------
                                             $  1,602,238       1,762,282
                                                =========       =========

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               Southwest Oil & Gas Income Fund VIII-A, L.P.

                         Statements of Operations
                                (unaudited)


                                 Three Months Ended     Nine Months Ended   
                                    September 30,         September 30,
                                   1996       1995      1996       1995  

     Revenues

Oil and gas                   $   423,438    330,993  1,259,744  1,142,639
Interest                              462        597      1,476      1,529
                                  -------    -------  ---------  ---------
                                  423,900    331,590  1,261,220  1,144,168
                                  -------    -------  ---------  ---------

     Expenses

Production                        274,419    293,431    771,347    786,200
General and administrative         24,917     24,705     84,538     85,925
Depreciation, depletion and
 amortization                      43,000     47,000    127,000    157,000
                                  -------    -------  ---------  ---------
                                  342,336    365,136    982,885  1,029,125
                                  -------    -------  ---------  ---------
Net income (loss)             $    81,564    (33,546)   278,335    115,043
                                  =======    =======  =========  =========
Net income (loss) allocated to:

  Managing General Partner    $    11,211      1,211     36,480     24,484
                                  =======    =======  =========  =========
  General Partner             $     1,246        135      4,053      2,720
                                  =======    =======  =========  =========
  Limited Partners            $    69,107    (34,892)   237,802     87,839
                                  =======    =======  =========  =========
    Per limited partner unit  $      5.08      (2.57)     17.49       6.46
                                  =======    =======  =========  =========
  

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               Southwest Oil & Gas Income Fund VIII-A, L.P.

                         Statements of Cash Flows
                                (unaudited)


                                                        Nine Months Ended 
                                                          September 30,
                                                         1996       1995 

Cash flows from operating activities:

  Cash received from oil and gas sales              $ 1,204,735  1,123,472
  Cash paid to suppliers                               (826,350)  (842,781)
  Interest received                                       1,476      1,529
                                                      ---------  ---------
      Net cash provided by operating
       activities                                       379,861    282,220
                                                      ---------  ---------
Cash flows from investing activities:

  Cash received from sale of oil
   and gas properties                                    62,390     74,337
  Additions to oil and gas properties                   (10,600)   (40,920)
                                                      ---------  ---------
      Net cash provided by investing
       activities                                        51,790     33,417
                                                      ---------  ---------
Cash flows used in financing activities:

  Distributions to partners                            (438,379)  (309,774)
                                                      ---------  ---------
Net increase (decrease) in cash
 and cash equivalents                                    (6,728)     5,863

  Beginning of period                                    38,356     37,115
                                                      ---------  ---------
  End of period                                     $    31,628     42,978
                                                      =========  =========

                                                                (continued)

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               Southwest Oil & Gas Income Fund VIII-A, L.P.

                    Statements of Cash Flows, continued
                                (unaudited)


                                                        Nine Months Ended 
                                                          September 30,
                                                         1996       1995 

Reconciliation of net income to net
 cash provided by operating activities:

Net income                                          $   278,335    115,043

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net
 cash provided by operating activities:

    Depreciation, depletion and 
     amortization                                       127,000    157,000
    Increase in receivables                             (55,009)   (19,167)
    Increase in payables                                 29,535     29,344
                                                        -------    -------
Net cash provided by operating
 activities                                         $   379,861    282,220
                                                        =======    =======

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Item 2.  Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and    
         Results of Operations

General

Southwest Oil & Gas Income Fund VIII-A, L.P. was organized as a Delaware
limited partnership on November 30, 1987. The offering of such limited
partnership interests began on March 31, 1988, minimum capital requirements
were met on July 6, 1988, and the offering concluded on March 31, 1989, with
total limited partner contributions of $6,798,000.

The Partnership was formed to acquire interests in producing oil and gas
properties, to produce and market crude oil and natural gas produced from
such properties, and to distribute the net proceeds from operations to the
limited and general partners.  Net revenues from producing oil and gas
properties are not reinvested in other revenue producing assets except to the
extent that production facilities and wells are improved or reworked or where
methods are employed to improve or enable more efficient recovery of oil and
gas reserves.

Increases or decreases in Partnership revenues and, therefore, distributions
to partners will depend primarily on changes in the prices received for
production, changes in volumes of production sold, increases and decreases in
lease operating expenses, enhanced recovery projects, offset drilling
activities pursuant to farm-out arrangements, sales of properties, and the
depletion of wells.  Since wells deplete over time, production can generally
be expected to decline from year to year.

Well operating costs and general and administrative costs usually decrease
with production declines; however, these costs may not decrease
proportionately.  Net income available for distribution to the partners is
therefore expected to fluctuate in later years based on these factors.

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Results of Operations

A.  General Comparison of the Quarters Ended September 30, 1996 and 1995

The following table provides certain information regarding performance
factors for the quarters ended September 30, 1996 and 1995:

                                               Three Months
                                                  Ended         Percentage
                                               September 30,     Increase
                                              1996      1995    (Decrease)
                                              ----      ----    ----------

Average price per barrel of oil          $   21.77      16.23       34% 
Average price per mcf of gas             $    2.30       2.02       14% 
Oil production in barrels                   17,100     17,100        -  
Gas production in mcf                       21,900     26,800      (18%)
Gross oil and gas revenue                $ 423,438    330,993       28% 
Net oil and gas revenue                  $ 149,019     37,562      297% 
Partnership distributions                $ 118,000     84,500       40% 
Limited partner distributions            $ 106,200     76,050       40% 
Per unit distribution to limited
 partners                                $    7.81       5.59       40% 
Number of limited partner units             13,596     13,596

Revenues

The Partnership's oil and gas revenues increased to $423,438 from $330,993
for the quarters ended September 30, 1996 and 1995, respectively, an increase
of 28%.  The principal factors affecting the comparison of the quarters ended
September 30, 1996 and 1995 are as follows:

1.  The average price for a barrel of oil received by the Partnership
    increased during the quarter ended September 30, 1996 as compared to the
    quarter ended September 30, 1995 by 34%, or $5.54 per barrel, resulting
    in an increase of approximately $94,700 in revenues.  Oil sales
    represented 88% of total oil and gas sales during the quarter ended
    September 30, 1996 as compared to 84% during the quarter ended September
    30, 1995.

    The average price for an mcf of gas received by the Partnership increased
    during the same period by 14%, or $.28 per mcf, resulting in an increase
    of approximately $7,500 in revenues.  

    The total increase in revenues due to the change in prices received from
    oil and gas production is approximately $102,200.  The market price for
    oil and gas has been extremely volatile over the past decade, and
    management expects a certain amount of volatility to continue in the
    foreseeable future.

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2.  Oil production remained unchanged during the quarter ended September 30,
    1996 as compared to the quarter ended September 30, 1995.

    Gas production decreased approximately 4,900 mcf or 18% during the same
    period, resulting in a decrease of approximately $11,300 in revenues.

    The total decrease in revenues due to the change in production is
    approximately $11,300.  The decrease is primarily a result of the sale of
    oil and gas properties.

Costs and Expenses

Total costs and expenses decreased to $342,336 from $365,136 for the quarters
ended September 30, 1996 and 1995, respectively, a decrease of 6%.  The
decrease is the result of lower lease operating costs and depletion expense,
offset by an increase in general and administrative expense.

1.  Lease operating costs and production taxes were 6% lower, or
    approximately $19,000 less during the quarter ended September 30, 1996 as
    compared to the quarter ended September 30, 1995.

2.  General and administrative costs consist of independent accounting and
    engineering fees, computer services, postage, and Managing General
    Partner personnel costs.  General and administrative costs increased 1%
    or approximately $200 during the quarter ended September 30, 1996 as
    compared to the quarter ended September 30, 1995.

3.  Depletion expense decreased to $43,000 for the quarter ended September
    30, 1996 from $47,000 for the same period in 1995.  This represents a
    decrease of 9%.  Depletion is calculated using the gross revenue method
    of amortization based on a percentage of current period gross revenues to
    total future gross oil and gas revenues, as estimated by the
    Partnership's independent petroleum consultants.  Two factors that
    attributed to the decline in depletion expense between the comparative
    periods were the increase in the price of oil and gas used to determine
    the Partnership's reserves for January 1, 1996 as compared to 1995 and
    the increase in property sales.

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B.  General Comparison of the Nine Month Periods Ended September 30, 1996 and
    1995

The following table provides certain information regarding performance
factors for the nine month periods ended September 30, 1996 and 1995:

                                                                
                                                Nine Months
                                                  Ended         Percentage
                                               September 30,     Increase
                                              1996      1995    (Decrease)
                                              ----      ----    ----------

Average price per barrel of oil       $      20.17       16.92      19% 
Average price per mcf of gas          $       2.49        2.06      21% 
Oil production in barrels                   53,600      56,900      (6%)
Gas production in mcf                       71,800      87,500     (18%)
Gross oil and gas revenue             $  1,259,744   1,142,639      10% 
Net oil and gas revenue               $    488,397     356,439      37% 
Partnership distributions             $    438,712     310,010      42% 
Limited partner distributions         $    395,912     283,260      40% 
Per unit distribution to limited      
 partners                             $      29.12       20.83      40% 
Number of limited partner units             13,596      13,596

Revenues

The Partnership's oil and gas revenues increased to $1,259,744 from
$1,142,639 for the nine months ended September 30, 1996 and 1995,
respectively, an increase of 10%.  The principal factors affecting the
comparison of the nine months ended September 30, 1996 and 1995 are as
follows:

1.  The average price for a barrel of oil received by the Partnership
    increased during the nine months ended September 30, 1996 as compared to
    the nine months ended September 30, 1995 by 19%, or $3.25 per barrel,
    resulting in an increase of approximately $184,900 in revenues.  Oil
    sales represented 86% of total oil and gas sales during the nine months
    ended September 30, 1996 as compared to 84% during the nine months ended
    September 30, 1995.

    The average price for an mcf of gas received by the Partnership increased
    during the same period by 21%, or $.43 per mcf, resulting in an increase
    of approximately $37,600 in revenues.  

    The total increase in revenues due to the change in prices received from
    oil and gas production is approximately $222,500.  The market price for
    oil and gas has been extremely volatile over the past decade, and
    management expects a certain amount of volatility to continue in the
    foreseeable future.

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2.  Oil production decreased approximately 3,300 barrels or 6% during the
    nine months ended September 30, 1996 as compared to the nine months ended
    September 30, 1995, resulting in a decrease of approximately $66,600 in
    revenues.

    Gas production decreased approximately 15,700 mcf or 18% during the same
    period, resulting in a decrease of approximately $39,100 in revenues.

    The total decrease in revenues due to the change in production is
    approximately $105,700.  The decrease is primarily a result of the sale
    of oil and gas properties.

Costs and Expenses

Total costs and expenses decreased to $982,885 from $1,029,125 for the nine
months ended September 30, 1996 and 1995, respectively, a decrease of 4%. 
The decrease is the result of lower lease operating costs, general and
administrative expense and depletion expense.

1.  Lease operating costs and production taxes were 2% lower, or
    approximately $14,900 less during the nine months ended September 30,
    1996 as compared to the nine months ended September 30, 1995.

2.  General and administrative costs consist of independent accounting and
    engineering fees, computer services, postage, and Managing General
    Partner personnel costs.  General and administrative costs decreased 2%
    or approximately $1,400 during the nine months ended September 30, 1996
    as compared to the nine months ended September 30, 1995.

3.  Depletion expense decreased to $127,000 for the nine months ended
    September 30, 1996 from $157,000 for the same period in 1995.  This
    represents a decrease of 19%.  Depletion is calculated using the gross
    revenue method of amortization based on a percentage of current period
    gross revenues to total future gross oil and gas revenues, as estimated
    by the Partnership's independent petroleum consultants.  Two factors that
    attributed to the decline in depletion expense between the comparative
    periods were the increase in the price of oil and gas used to determine
    the Partnership's reserves for January 1, 1996 as compared to 1995 and
    the increase in property sales.

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Liquidity and Capital Resources

The primary source of cash is from operations, the receipt of income from
interests in oil and gas properties.  The Partnership knows of no material
change, nor does it anticipate any such change.

Cash flows provided by operating activities were approximately $379,900 in
the nine months ended September 30, 1996 as compared to approximately
$282,200 in the nine months ended September 30, 1995.  The primary source of
the 1996 cash flow from operating activities was profitable operations.

Cash flows provided by investing activities were approximately $51,800 in the
nine months ended September 30, 1996 as compared to approximately $33,400 in
the nine months ended September 30, 1995.  The principle source of the 1996
cash flow from investing activities was the sale of oil and gas properties,
offset by the additions to oil and gas properties.

Cash flows used in financing activities were approximately $438,400 in the
nine months ended September 30, 1996 as compared to approximately $309,800 in
the nine months ended September 30, 1995.  The only use in financing
activities was the distributions to partners.

Total distributions during the nine months ended September 30, 1996 were
$438,712 of which $395,912 was distributed to the limited partners and
$42,800 to the general partners.  The per unit distribution to limited
partners during the nine months ended September 30, 1996 was $29.12.  Total
distributions during the nine months ended September 30, 1995 were $310,010
of which $283,260 was distributed to the limited partners and $26,750 to the
general partners.  The per unit distribution to limited partners during the
nine months ended September 30, 1995 was $20.83.  

The sources for the 1996 distributions of $438,712 were oil and gas
operations of approximately $379,900 and the sale of oil and gas properties
of approximately $62,400, offset by additions to oil and gas properties of
approximately $10,600, with the balance from available cash on hand at the
beginning of the period.  The sources for the 1995 distributions of $310,010
were oil and gas operations of approximately $282,200 and the sale of oil and
gas properties approximately $74,300, offset by additions to oil and gas
properties of approximately $40,900, resulting in excess cash for
contingencies and subsequent distributions. 

Since inception of the Partnership, cumulative monthly cash distributions of
$6,015,651 have been made to the partners.  As of September 30, 1996,
$5,453,730 or $401.13 per limited partner unit has been distributed to the
limited partners, representing an 80% return of the capital contributed.

As of September 30, 1996, the Partnership had approximately $200,400 in
working capital.  The Managing General Partner knows of no unusual
contractual commitments and believes the revenues generated from operations
are adequate to meet the needs of the Partnership.

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                       PART II. - OTHER INFORMATION


Item 1. Legal Proceedings

        None

Item 2. Changes in Securities

        None

Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities

        None

Item 4. Submission of Matter to a Vote of Security Holders

        None

Item 5. Other Information

        None

Item 6. Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K

        (a)  Financial Data Schedule
        (b)  No reports on Form 8-K were filed during the quarter for which 
             this report is filed.

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                                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.

                                 SOUTHWEST OIL & GAS  
                                 INCOME FUND VIII-A, L.P.
                                 a Delaware limited partnership


                                 By:   Southwest Royalties, Inc.
                                       Managing General Partner



                                 By:   /s/ Bill E. Coggin                  
                                       Bill E. Coggin, Vice President
                                       and Chief Financial Officer
Date: November 15, 1996

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