B737-800
Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Instrument
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 171; Flight Crew Total 2505; Flight Crew Type 2505
Human-Machine Interface
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Deviation - Altitude Undershoot; Deviation - Speed All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Inflight Event / Encounter Unstabilized Approach
Air Traffic Control Provided Assistance; Flight Crew Became Reoriented; Flight Crew Returned To Clearance; Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification; Flight Crew Executed Go Around / Missed Approach
Aircraft; Human Factors
On descent and approach into SMF we were descending VIA the SLMMR3; I was the Pilot Monitoring. At approximately POZUR we were cleared for the ILS Runway 16L once reaching TENCO. We set 1;900 ft. in the MCP window for LEVEY and we were in LNAV/VNAV. Approximately at DIRBE we were fully configured target speed was set and we were slowing. We were on the VNAV descent path and shortly after passing DIRBE VOR/LOC and glideslope captured; TDZE was set in the MCP window. I was changing to the tower frequency and when I looked up the airspeed was about Vref and the trend was still slowing rapidly. I called airspeed and reached up to advance the throttles about the same time the Captain did. I looked to the attitude indicator and the aircraft was pitching about 15-20 degrees up. I called to push the nose down and at the same time pushed forward on the control column. Again VOR/LOC and GS were both captured and the auto throttles were on. The Captain recovered and we were only between 1/2 dot and 1 dot above glideslope and still outside the FAF; but at this point continuing the approach did not seem like a good idea so I called for a go-around. We were still outside LEVEY and above 2;000 ft. and Tower assigned us runway heading and continue descent and maintain 2;000 ft. We were then vectored around for another approach and landed. This could have been a false glideslope capture but we were on the VNAV descent path and on or slightly below the glideslope indicator.
B738 First Officer reported that a false glideslope capture resulted in an unstabilized approach; followed by a go-around.