If the branches were tangled enough to keep it from falling, they were also likely enough to keep it from pinching.
Also, with smaller pines with a lean like that, you often dont need to cut a wedge to cut them down. You can cut in about 1/3 of the on the underside, or however far you can go before it starts to affect the trunks integrity, then switch to the outside. Since the tree’s weight is pulling it away from the blade, you dont need to create the extra space /uneveness of a wedge to keep it leaning the proper direction.
My guess it that- someone back cut from the bottom, then finished from the topside, expecting the weight to Crack the wood in the last inch or so and drop it away from them, but the branches were tangled enough at the top to keep it from falling, leaving them in position of having to separate the tops without putting themselves in harms way.
If the branches were tangled enough to keep it from falling, they were also likely enough to keep it from pinching.
Also, with smaller pines with a lean like that, you often dont need to cut a wedge to cut them down. You can cut in about 1/3 of the on the underside, or however far you can go before it starts to affect the trunks integrity, then switch to the outside. Since the tree’s weight is pulling it away from the blade, you dont need to create the extra space /uneveness of a wedge to keep it leaning the proper direction.
My guess it that- someone back cut from the bottom, then finished from the topside, expecting the weight to Crack the wood in the last inch or so and drop it away from them, but the branches were tangled enough at the top to keep it from falling, leaving them in position of having to separate the tops without putting themselves in harms way.