High spatial resolution and fast capturing possibilities make 3D terrestrial laser scanners widely used in engineering applications and cultural heritage recording. Phase based laser scanners can measure distances to object surfaces with a precision in the order of a few millimeters at ranges between 1 and 80 m. However, the object surface orientation influences the quality of single points in the point cloud data. This paper investigates the performances of a FARO LS880-HE80 laser scanner in measuring a surface oriented at several angular positions under stable conditions. For this purpose one medium-density fibre board and one white coated plywood board are scanned from different angles. By reconstructing the incidence angle of the laser beam corresponding to each individual scan point, an in practice continuous range of angles is obtained from only a limited number of scans. This allows us to study the noise level and relative intensity as a function of the scan angle. In general, the obtained results match the results as may be expected from scattering theory, but it is also shown that saturation has high impact for especially near perpendicular incidence angles. Modeling the incidence angle induced error component seems a feasible step in the construction of the total error budget of individual scan points.