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, 1997

                                       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 No. 33-3353C


                           PARKER & PARSLEY 86-C, LTD.
             (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

              Texas                                           75-2142283
(State or other jurisdiction of                             (I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization)                           Identification Number)

303 West Wall, Suite 101, Midland, Texas                          79701
(Address of principal executive offices)                       (Zip code)

       Registrant's Telephone Number, including area code : (915) 683-4768

                                 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.

                                Yes / x / No / /

                               Page 1 of 12 pages.
                           Exhibit index on page 11.







                           PARKER & PARSLEY 86-C, LTD.

                                TABLE OF CONTENTS


                                                                       Page
                          Part I. Financial Information

Item 1.    Financial Statements

           Balance Sheets as of September 30, 1997 and
              December 31, 1996   ...................................    3

           Statements of Operations for the three and nine
             months ended September 30, 1997 and 1996................    4

           Statement of Partners' Capital for the nine months
             ended September 30, 1997................................    5

           Statements of Cash Flows for the nine months ended
             September 30, 1997 and 1996.............................    6

           Notes to Financial Statements.............................    7

Item 2.    Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial
             Condition and Results of Operations.....................    7
                

                           Part II. Other Information

Item 6.    Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K...........................   11
         
           27.   Financial Data Schedule

           Signatures.................................................   12



                                        2





                           PARKER & PARSLEY 86-C, LTD.
                          (A Texas Limited Partnership)

                          Part I. Financial Information

Item 1.   Financial Statements

                                 BALANCE SHEETS

                                                    September 30,  December 31,
                                                        1997            1996
                                                    ------------   ------------
                                                    (Unaudited)
                 ASSETS

Current assets:
  Cash and cash equivalents, including interest 
     bearing deposits of $156,365 at September 30
     and $193,384 at December 31                   $     156,593   $    205,207
  Accounts receivable - oil and gas sales                164,093        265,255
                                                    ------------    -----------
          Total current assets                           320,686        470,462
                                                    ------------    -----------
Oil and gas properties - at cost, based on the
  successful efforts accounting method                14,546,262     14,551,413
Accumulated depletion                                (11,089,086)   (10,828,428)
                                                    ------------    -----------
          Net oil and gas properties                   3,457,176      3,722,985
                                                    ------------    -----------
                                                   $   3,777,862   $  4,193,447
                                                    ============    ===========
LIABILITIES AND PARTNERS' CAPITAL

Current liabilities:
  Accounts payable - affiliate                     $      51,496   $    104,535
Partners' capital:
  Managing general partner                                35,956         39,581
  Limited partners (19,317 interests)                  3,690,410      4,049,331
                                                    ------------    -----------
                                                       3,726,366      4,088,912
                                                    ------------    -----------
                                                   $   3,777,862   $  4,193,447
                                                    ============    ===========


The financial information included as of September 30, 1997 has been prepared by
          management without audit by independent public accountants.

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

                                        3





                           PARKER & PARSLEY 86-C, LTD.
                          (A Texas Limited Partnership)

                            STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
                                   (Unaudited)



                                Three months ended          Nine months ended
                                   September 30,              September 30,
                               ---------------------     -----------------------
                                  1997       1996          1997          1996
                               ---------  ----------     ----------   ----------

Revenues:
  Oil and gas                  $ 321,035   $ 400,781     $1,084,313   $1,207,241
  Interest                         2,729       2,670          9,305        5,821
  Gain (loss) on
     disposition of assets           -        (1,638)        14,656       66,136
  Litigation settlement              -           -              -        704,864
                                --------    --------      ---------    ---------
                                 323,764     401,813      1,108,274    1,984,062
                                --------    --------      ---------    ---------

Costs and expenses:
  Oil and gas production         196,365     180,835        586,701      614,436
  General and administrative       9,632      12,024         32,530       36,218
  Depletion                       81,912      85,319        260,658      268,472
  Abandoned property               9,016         -            9,016       27,923
                                --------    --------      ---------    ---------
                                 296,925     278,178        888,905      947,049
                                --------    --------      ---------    ---------
Net income                     $  26,839   $ 123,635     $  219,369   $1,037,013
                                ========    ========      =========    =========

Allocation of net income:
   Managing general partner    $     269   $   1,236     $    2,194   $   10,370
                                ========    ========      =========    =========
   Limited partners            $  26,570   $ 122,399     $  217,175   $1,026,643
                                ========    ========      =========    =========
Net income per limited
   partnership interest        $    1.37   $    6.34     $    11.24   $    53.15
                                ========    ========      =========    =========
Distributions per limited
   partnership interest        $    7.02   $    7.77     $    29.82   $    57.87
                                ========    ========      =========    =========



    The financial information included herein has been prepared by management
                without audit by independent public accountants.

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

                                        4





                           PARKER & PARSLEY 86-C, LTD.
                          (A Texas Limited Partnership)

                         STATEMENT OF PARTNERS' CAPITAL
                                   (Unaudited)




                                     Managing
                                     general         Limited
                                     partner         partners          Total
                                  -------------   --------------   -------------

Balance at January 1, 1997        $     39,581    $   4,049,331    $  4,088,912

    Distributions                       (5,819)        (576,096)       (581,915)

    Net income                           2,194          217,175         219,369
                                    ----------      -----------      ----------

Balance at September 30, 1997     $     35,956    $   3,690,410    $  3,726,366
                                   ===========     ============     ===========
























   The financial information included herein has been prepared by management
                without audit by independent public accountants.

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

                                        5





                           PARKER & PARSLEY 86-C, LTD.
                          (A Texas Limited Partnership)

                            STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
                                   (Unaudited)



                                                           Nine months ended
                                                              September 30,
                                                          1997            1996
                                                       -----------   ---------- 
Cash flows from operating activities:

  Net income                                           $  219,369   $ 1,037,013
  Adjustments to reconcile net income to net
    cash provided by operating activities:
       Depletion                                          260,658       268,472
       Gain on disposition of assets                      (14,656)      (66,136)
  Changes in assets and liabilities:
       (Increase) decrease in accounts receivable         101,162       (17,531)
       Decrease in accounts payable                       (51,625)       (7,722)
                                                        ---------    ----------

            Net cash provided by operating activities     514,908     1,214,096
                                                        ---------    ----------

Cash flows from investing activities:

  Additions to oil and gas properties                        -          (17,896)
  Proceeds from disposition of assets                      18,393        68,020
                                                        ---------    ----------

            Net cash provided by investing activities      18,393        50,124
                                                        ---------    ----------

Cash flows from financing activities:

  Cash distributions to partners                         (581,915)   (1,129,214)
                                                        ---------    ----------

Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents      (48,614)      135,006
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period          205,207        73,796
                                                        ---------    ----------

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period             $  156,593   $   208,802
                                                        =========    ==========








    The financial information included herein has been prepared by management
                without audit by independent public accountants.

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


                                        6





                           PARKER & PARSLEY 86-C, LTD.
                          (A Texas Limited Partnership)

                          NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                               September 30, 1997
                                   (Unaudited)


Note 1.   Basis of presentation

In the opinion of  management,  the unaudited  financial  statements of Parker &
Parsley  86-C,  Ltd.  (the  "Partnership")  as of September 30, 1997 and for the
three and nine months ended  September 30, 1997 and 1996 include all adjustments
and accruals  consisting only of normal recurring accrual  adjustments which are
necessary for a fair  presentation of the results for the interim period.  These
interim results are not necessarily indicative of results for a full year.

Certain  information  and  footnote  disclosure  normally  included in financial
statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting  principles
have been  condensed  or  omitted  in this Form 10-Q  pursuant  to the rules and
regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission.  The financial statements
should  be read in  conjunction  with the  financial  statements  and the  notes
thereto  contained in the  Partnership's  Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
December 31, 1996, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission,  a copy
of which is available upon request by writing to Rich Dealy,  Vice President and
Controller, 303 West Wall, Suite 101, Midland, Texas 79701.

Item 2.   Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition
           and Results of Operations (1)

As of August 8, 1997, Pioneer Natural Resources USA, Inc. ("Pioneer USA") became
the  general  partner  of  the  Partnership.   Prior  to  August  8,  1997,  the
Partnership's general partner was Parker & Parsley Development L.P. ("PPDLP"), a
wholly-owned  subsidiary  of  Parker &  Parsley  Petroleum  Company  ("Parker  &
Parsley").  On  August  7,  1997,  Parker  &  Parsley  and  Mesa  Inc.  received
shareholder  approval  to merge and create  Pioneer  Natural  Resources  Company
("Pioneer").  On August 8, 1997,  PPDLP was merged with and into  Pioneer USA, a
wholly-owned  subsidiary  of  Pioneer,  resulting  in Pioneer USA  becoming  the
general  partner of the Partnership as PPDLP's  successor by merger.  For a more
complete description of the Parker & Parsley and Mesa Inc. merger, see Pioneer's
Registration  Statement  on Form S-4 as filed with the  Securities  and Exchange
Commission.

Results of Operations

Nine months ended September 30, 1997 compared with nine months ended
  September 30, 1996

Revenues:

The  Partnership's  oil  and  gas  revenues  decreased  10% to  $1,084,313  from
$1,207,241 for the ninemonths  ended  September 30, 1997 as compared to the nine

                                        7





months  ended  September  30,  1996.  The  decrease  in revenues  resulted  from
decreases  in barrels of oil and mcf of gas  produced and sold and a decrease in
the  average  price  received  per barrel of oil,  offset by an  increase in the
average price  received per mcf of gas. For the nine months ended  September 30,
1997,  35,219 barrels of oil were sold compared to 38,211 for the same period in
1996, a decrease of 2,992  barrels,  or 8%. For the nine months ended  September
30, 1997,  165,236 mcf of gas were sold  compared to 191,063 for the same period
in 1996,  a  decrease  of  25,827  mcf,  or 14%.  The  decreases  in oil and gas
production were due to the decline  characteristics of the Partnership's oil and
gas properties.  Because of these characteristics,  management expects a certain
amount  of  decline  in   production   to  continue  in  the  future  until  the
Partnership's economically recoverable reserves are fully depleted.

The average price received per barrel of oil decreased $1.05, or 5%, from $20.82
for the nine months  ended  September  30, 1996 to $19.77 for the same period in
1997,  while the average  price  received per mcf of gas increased 9% from $2.16
during the nine months  ended  September  30, 1996 to $2.35 in 1997.  The market
price  for oil and gas has  been  extremely  volatile  in the past  decade,  and
management expects a certain amount of volatility to continue in the foreseeable
future.  The Partnership may therefore sell its future oil and gas production at
average  prices lower or higher than that received  during the nine months ended
September 30, 1997.

Gain on  disposition  of assets was  comprised of salvage  income of $14,656 and
$28,740  received  during the nine  months  ended  September  30, 1997 and 1996,
respectively,  from the disposal of oil and gas equipment on one fully  depleted
well during each period, and a gain of $37,396 from the sale of four oil and gas
wells and four saltwater disposal wells to Costilla Energy,  L.L.C.,  during the
nine months ended September 30, 1996.

On April 29, 1996, Southmark  Corporation,  the managing general partner and the
Partnership entered into a final $7.4 million settlement  agreement with Jack N.
Price resolving all outstanding litigation between the parties. As a result, all
of the pending lawsuits and judgments have been dismissed,  the supersedeas bond
released,  and the Reserve  released as  collateral.  On June 28,  1996, a final
distribution was made to the working interest owners of $704,864, which included
$697,816, or $36.12 per limited partnership interest, to the Partnership and its
partners.

Costs and Expenses:

Total  costs and  expenses  decreased  to  $888,905  for the nine  months  ended
September  30,  1997 as compared  to  $947,049  for the same  period in 1996,  a
decrease of  $58,144,  or 6%. This  decrease  was due to declines in  production
costs,  abandoned  property  cost,  depletion  and  general  and  administrative
expenses ("G&A").

Production  costs were $586,701 for the nine months ended September 30, 1997 and
$614,436 for the same period in 1996,  resulting in a $27,735,  or 5%, decrease.
This decrease was the result of lower workover costs and declines in well repair
and maintenance costs.

G&A's  components are independent  accounting and engineering  fees and managing
general  partner  personnel  and  operating  costs.   During  this  period,  G&A
decreased,  in aggregate,  10% from $36,218 for the nine months ended  September
30,  1996 to $32,530  for the same  period in 1997.  The  Partnership  agreement
limits G&A to 3% of gross oil and gas revenues.


                                        8





Depletion was $260,658 for the nine months ended  September 30, 1997 compared to
$268,472 for the same period in 1996,  representing a decrease of $7,814, or 3%.
The decrease was due to the decline in oil  production of 2,992 barrels from the
nine  months  ended  September  30, 1997 as compared to the same period in 1996,
offset by a decline in oil reserves in 1997 due to lower commodity prices.

Abandoned  property  costs during the nine months ended  September  30, 1996 and
1997 totaled $27,923 and $9,016, respectively.  These costs were attributable to
plugging and abandonment of two uneconomical wells in 1996 and one in 1997.

Three months ended September 30, 1997 compared with three months ended September
  30, 1996

Revenues:

The Partnership's  oil and gas revenues  decreased 20% to $321,035 from $400,781
for the three  months ended  September  30, 1997 as compared to the three months
ended  September  30, 1996.  The decrease in revenues  resulted from declines in
barrels  of oil and mcf of gas  produced  and  sold  and a lower  average  price
received  per barrel of oil.  For the three  months  ended  September  30, 1997,
10,901  barrels of oil were sold compared to 12,064 for the same period in 1996,
a decrease of 1,163  barrels,  or 10%. For the three months ended  September 30,
1997,  56,297 mcf of gas were sold  compared  to 65,370  for the same  period in
1996, a decrease of 9,073 mcf, or 14%. The  decreases in oil and gas  production
were  due to the  decline  characteristics  of the  Partnership's  oil  and  gas
properties.

The average  price  received per barrel of oil  decreased  $3.20,  or 15%,  from
$21.55 for the three  months  ended  September  30,  1996 to $18.35 for the same
period in 1997 while the average price received per mcf of gas remained constant
at $2.15 for the three months ended September 30, 1996 and 1997.

Costs and Expenses:

Total costs and  expenses  increased  to  $296,925  for the three  months  ended
September  30,  1997 as compared  to  $278,178  for the same period in 1996,  an
increase of $18,747,  or 7%. This increase  consisted of higher production costs
and abandoned property costs, offset by declines in depletion and G&A.

Production costs were $196,365 for the three months ended September 30, 1997 and
$180,835 for the same period in 1996,  resulting in a $15,530  increase,  or 9%.
This  increase was the result of  additional  well repair and  maintenance  cost
incurred  in an effort to  stimulate  well  production,  offset by a decrease in
workover costs.

G&A's  components are independent  accounting and engineering  fees and managing
general  partner  personnel  and  operating  costs.   During  this  period,  G&A
decreased,  in aggregate,  20% from $12,024 for the three months ended September
30, 1996 to $9,632 for the same period in 1997.

Depletion was $81,912 for the three months ended  September 30, 1997 compared to
$85,319 for the same period in 1996, representing a decrease of $3,407, or 4%.

                                        9





The decrease was due to the decline in oil  production  of 1,163 barrels for the
three  months ended  September  30, 1997 as compared to the same period in 1996,
offset by a decline  in oil  reserves  during  the third  quarter of 1997 due to
lower commodity prices.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities

Net cash provided by operating  activities  decreased  $699,188  during the nine
months ended  September 30, 1997 from the same period ended  September 30, 1996.
This decrease was primarily  due to the receipt of  litigation  proceeds  during
1996 as discussed in Item 2 and an increase in production costs paid,  offset by
an increase in oil and gas sales receipts.

Net Cash Provided by Investing Activities

The Partnership's  investment  activities during the nine months ended September
30,  1997 and 1996  were  related  to  disposal  or  replacement  of oil and gas
equipment on various oil and gas properties.

Proceeds  from salvage  income of $14,656 and $28,740 were  received  during the
nine months ended September 30, 1997 and 1996,  respectively,  and are primarily
from the sale of oil and gas equipment on one fully  depleted  well during each
period. Proceeds of $39,280 were received during the nine months ended September
30,  1996 from the sale of four oil and gas wells  and four  saltwater  disposal
wells.

Net Cash Used in Financing Activities

Cash was  sufficient  for the nine  months  ended  September  30,  1997 to cover
distributions to the partners of $581,915 of which $5,819 was distributed to the
managing  general  partner and  $576,096 to the limited  partners.  For the same
period ended  September 30, 1996, cash was sufficient for  distributions  to the
partners of $1,129,214 of which $11,292 was distributed to the managing  general
partner  and  $1,117,922  to the limited  partners.  Cash  distributions  to the
partners of  $1,129,214  for the nine months ended  September  30, 1996 included
$7,048 to the managing  general  partner and  $697,816 to the limited  partners,
resulting from proceeds  received in the  litigation  settlement as discussed in
Item 2.

It is expected  that future net cash  provided by operating  activities  will be
sufficient for any capital expenditures and any distributions. As the production
from the properties declines, distributions are also expected to decrease.

- ---------------


(1)    "Item 2. Management's  Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and
       Results of Operations"  contains forward looking  statements that involve
       risks and uncertainties. Accordingly, no assurances can be given that the
       actual  events and  results  will not be  materially  different  than the
       anticipated results described in the forward looking statements.


                                       10








                           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



                                       11




                           PARKER & PARSLEY 86-C, LTD.
                          (A Texas Limited Partnership)



                               S I G N A T U R E S



       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.


                                          PARKER & PARSLEY 86-C, LTD.

                                    By:  Pioneer Natural Resources USA, Inc.,
                                          Managing General Partner




Dated:  November 6, 1997            By:  /s/ Rich Dealy
                                         ------------------------------
                                         Rich Dealy, Vice President and
                                          Controller



                                       12